Abstract Details

Title Relationship Between Sub-Concussive Head Impacts and Changes In Brain Metabolism in Ice Hockey Athletes

Topic Neuro Trauma, Critical Care, and Sports Neurology

Presentation(s) S8 - Neuro Trauma and Sports Neurology (3:52 PM-4:03 PM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 003

Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship of head impact kinetics and brain metabolism in ice hockey athletes.

Background

Repeated sub-concussive head impacts have been associated with changes in brain metabolism in football athletes and possible later life neurological impairments.

Design/Methods A total of twenty-two male collegiate ice hockey athletes (age 20.3 ± 0.8 years) were outfitted with a head impact telemetry system (Triax Technologies, Norwalk, CT) for all home practices and games over two seasons (Year 1: n=9, Year 2: n=13). Participants also underwent pre-season, mid-season, and post-season imaging sessions. The scanning protocol included a magnetic resonance spectroscopy sequence of the posterior cingulate (PC), primary motor cortex (M1), and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using single voxel point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) with the following parameters TE = 30 ms, TR = 2000 ms, voxel size = 20x20x20 mm, with 128 averages. Magnetic field homogeneity was ensured with manual shimming to a linewidth of less than 15 Hz full-width half maximum (FWHM) of the water signal. A least squares regression analysis was completed using head impact telemetry metrics and brain metabolite concentrations across the three separate brain regions.

Results Significant correlation was found between head impact metrics and change in NAA/(Cr+PCr) for the DLPFC (p=0.011), with correlations to each head impact metrics (peak linear acceleration, peak rotational acceleration, and impact density). A marginally significant correlation was also found for changes in (Glu+Gln)/(Cr+PCr) for M1 (p=0.074) with correlations to impact density, peak rotational velocity, and peak rotational acceleration. Both NAA and Glx concentrations increased from the pre-season to the post-season. No other correlations were significant.

Conclusions This study is the first to investigate neurometabolic changes with sub-concussive head impacts in ice hockey athletes. Further work is needed to determine the clinical implications of these correlations.

Authors/Disclosures
Katherine Breedlove, PhD (Brigham and Women's Hospital) PRESENTER	No disclosure on file
Alexander P. Lin, PhD (Brigham and Women'S Hospital/Harvard Med School)	Prof. Lin has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for Agios Pharmaceuticals. Prof. Lin has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving as a Consultant for Biomarin. Prof. Lin has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Moncton MRI. Prof. Lin has stock in BrainSpec, Inc. Prof. Lin has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.
	No disclosure on file
Melissa S. DiFabio (University of Delaware)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Thomas A. Buckley, PhD (University of Delaware)	The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from Highmark Bluecross Blue Prints. The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from NIH/NINDS. The institution of Dr. Buckley has received research support from StateSpace, Inc.

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