INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 03 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 09:30 am - 10:40 am Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma \| Neurovascular Final Abstract #40 Cognitive Outcome in Professional American Football Players: The Roles of Concussion Dose and Cerebrovascular Risk Natalie Gevoglanian, Alliant International University, Los Angeles, United States Walter Daniel Lopez Hernandez, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, United States Mariam Gomez, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, United States Sarah Fatoorechi, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States Selina Mangassarian, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States Robert Cantu, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States Kevin Guskiewicz, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States Daniel Kelly, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, United States Ronald Swerdloff, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States Ellen Woo, CSU Fresno, Fresno, United States Matthew Wright, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States Category: Concussion/Mild TBI (Adult) Keyword 1: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury Keyword 2: sports-related neuropsychology Keyword 3: cognitive functioning Objective: Prior research has demonstrated the link between sports-related concussion and cognitive deficits in retired professional American football players. However, other factors such as cerebral vascular risk, could also play a role in the cognitive outcomes of this population. We evaluated the predictive value of cerebral vascular risk and concussion history together on cognitive outcomes of retired professional American football players. Participants and Methods: Our sample consisted of 30 retired football players with a mean age of 51.80 (SD = 7.27) with 16.47 years of education completed (SD = 1.17). All the participants completed a neuropsychological battery in English that included the following tests: Symbol Digit Modalities Test oral and written, Letter (F-A-S) and Animal naming verbal fluency, Trail Making Test part A and B, California Verbal Learning Test Second Edition, and Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. Additionally, data from neuropsychological performances, concussion history, medical history/status (e.g., blood pressure), and seasons played were used for the current analyses. We utilized the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimator Risk Estimator Plus to calculate cerebrovascular risk factors. Concussion dose was indexed by combining concussion frequency, associated post-traumatic amnesia durations, and the number of seasons played. Hierarchal linear regression was employed to evaluate the prediction of cerebral vascular risk factors and concussion dose in cognitive ability (i.e., global cognition). All participants passed performance validity testing. Results: Hierarchical regression was utilized to determine the contributions of cerebrovascular risk and concussion dose to cognitive outcomes in our sample. Cerebrovascular risk was entered first and was not found to be a significant predictor, F(1,27) = 0.52, p = .48. That said, concussion dose did predict global cognition, F(2,27) = 7.54, p = .011, R²= .23. Conclusions: Our data suggests that concussion dose is better predictive of cognitive outcomes in retired football players than cerebral risk factors. These findings support previous research where concussion history predicted cognitive outcomes. That said, it remains possible that the causes of cognitive deficits in contact sport athletes may be multifactorial in nature. Future research should consider a wider range of potential predictors (e.g., mood, physical activity level) to help elucidate the admix of salient variables related to cognitive outcomes in contact sports athletes.

Poster

02/15/2024
09:30 am - 10:40 am
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 03: Neurotrauma | Neurovascular

Final Abstract #40

Cognitive Outcome in Professional American Football Players: The Roles of Concussion Dose and Cerebrovascular Risk

Natalie Gevoglanian, Alliant International University, Los Angeles, United States
Walter Daniel Lopez Hernandez, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, United States
Mariam Gomez, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey, United States
Sarah Fatoorechi, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States
Selina Mangassarian, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States
Robert Cantu, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
Kevin Guskiewicz, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
Daniel Kelly, John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, United States
Ronald Swerdloff, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States
Ellen Woo, CSU Fresno, Fresno, United States
Matthew Wright, The Lundquist Institute, Torrance, United States

Category: Concussion/Mild TBI (Adult)

Keyword 1: concussion/ mild traumatic brain injury
Keyword 2: sports-related neuropsychology
Keyword 3: cognitive functioning

Objective:

Prior research has demonstrated the link between sports-related concussion and cognitive deficits in retired professional American football players. However, other factors such as cerebral vascular risk, could also play a role in the cognitive outcomes of this population. We evaluated the predictive value of cerebral vascular risk and concussion history together on cognitive outcomes of retired professional American football players.

Participants and Methods:

Our sample consisted of 30 retired football players with a mean age of 51.80 (SD = 7.27) with 16.47 years of education completed (SD = 1.17). All the participants completed a neuropsychological battery in English that included the following tests: Symbol Digit Modalities Test oral and written, Letter (F-A-S) and Animal naming verbal fluency, Trail Making Test part A and B, California Verbal Learning Test Second Edition, and Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test. Additionally, data from neuropsychological performances, concussion history, medical history/status (e.g., blood pressure), and seasons played were used for the current analyses. We utilized the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Estimator Risk Estimator Plus to calculate cerebrovascular risk factors. Concussion dose was indexed by combining concussion frequency, associated post-traumatic amnesia durations, and the number of seasons played. Hierarchal linear regression was employed to evaluate the prediction of cerebral vascular risk factors and concussion dose in cognitive ability (i.e., global cognition). All participants passed performance validity testing.

Results:

Hierarchical regression was utilized to determine the contributions of cerebrovascular risk and concussion dose to cognitive outcomes in our sample. Cerebrovascular risk was entered first and was not found to be a significant predictor, F(1,27) = 0.52, p = .48. That said, concussion dose did predict global cognition, F(2,27) = 7.54, p = .011, R²= .23.

Conclusions:

Our data suggests that concussion dose is better predictive of cognitive outcomes in retired football players than cerebral risk factors. These findings support previous research where concussion history predicted cognitive outcomes. That said, it remains possible that the causes of cognitive deficits in contact sport athletes may be multifactorial in nature. Future research should consider a wider range of potential predictors (e.g., mood, physical activity level) to help elucidate the admix of salient variables related to cognitive outcomes in contact sports athletes.