Abstract Details

Title Neuroimaging of Cognitive Dysfunction and Depression in Aging Retired NFL Players

Topic Sports Neurology

Presentation(s) IN5 - (-)

Poster/Presentation
Number 004

Objective

Background This was conducted as a cross-sectional study of thirty-four retired NFL players (mean age 62) neurologically and neuropsychologically.

Design/Methods A subset of 26 also underwent detailed neuroimaging (DTI for white matter integrity, ASL for cerebral blood flow); imaging data in this subset were compared to imaging data acquired in 26 healthy matched controls.

Results Of the 34 participants, 20 were cognitively normal, 4 were diagnosed with a fixed cognitive deficit, 8 with Mild Cognitive Impairment, and 2 with dementia; 8 were diagnosed with depression. Of the subgroup in which neuroimaging data were acquired, cognitively impaired (CI) participants showed greatest deficits on tests of naming, word finding, and visual/verbal episodic memory. We found significant differences in white matter abnormalities in CI players and depressed players compared to their respective controls. Regional blood flow differences in the CI group (left temporal pole, inferior parietal lobule, superior temporal gyrus) corresponded to regions associated with impaired neurocognitive performance (problems with memory, naming and word finding).

Conclusions In summary, cognitive deficits and depression appear to be more common in aging NFL players compared to controls. These deficits are correlated with white matter abnormalities and changes in regional CBF. These findings suggest a dynamic process underlying cognitive dysfunction in these aging players, and that their deficits do not simply reflect the static effects of previous damage. The increased cortical blood flow is posited to reflect transient cortical compensatory efforts to overcome reduced efficacy of interregional neural communications due to white matter deterioration. The decreased blood flow is posited to reflect regions having reduced function as a consequence of longer-term disconnection.

Authors/Disclosures
John Hart, MD (The University of Texas At Dallas) PRESENTER	The institution of Dr. Hart has received research support from Department of Defense.
	No disclosure on file
Nyaz Didehbani, PhD (UTSW)	Dr. Didehbani has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Kyle B. Womack, MD (Washington University School of Medicine)	The institution of Dr. Womack has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Womack has received research support from Janssen.
	No disclosure on file

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