Abstract Details

Title Resting State Functional Connectivity and White Matter Integrity as Biomarkers to Track Brain Changes in Former Athletes with Multiple Concussions

Topic Neuro Trauma, Critical Care, and Sports Neurology

Presentation(s) P11 - Poster Session 11 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)

Poster/Presentation
Number 5-001

Objective Assess the use of resting state functional connectivity and white matter (WM) integrity as biomarkers of longitudinal changes in a cohort of former contact sports athletes.

Background There are currently no biomarkers to track longitudinal changes after multiple concussions.

Design/Methods 25 former (24 professional, 1 semi-professional) contact sports athletes [all males; age (53.12±13.83); concussions (Median=2, Min=0, Max=16)] were recruited. Assessments completed at baseline & 2-year follow up: full neuropsychological/neurological battery, MRI, & cerebrospinal fluid collection to exclude Alzheimer’s disease.

Results Resting state functional connectivity within the salience network significantly decreased over time between the right anterior insula (AI) and the following areas: right supramarginal gyrus (SMG) (T=-2.87, p-FDR=0.030) & right rostral prefrontal cortex (RPFC) (T=-2.99, p-FDR=0.028). A decrease in connectivity was also observed between the left AI and the following areas: right SMG (T=-3.35, p-FDR=0.028) & right RPFC (T=-2.99, p-FDR=0.028). Finally, a significant decrease in connectivity was seen between right RPFC and the following areas: right SMG (T=-2.98, p-FDR=0.028) & left SMG (T=-3.36, p-FDR=0.028). Using a seed-level correction, a relationship was found in baseline connectivity between left RPFC and right SMG and worsening of depression t-scores (T=3.27, p-FDR=0.023), measured by Personality Assessment Inventory. The WM integrity of the corpus callosum (CC) significantly decreased over the 2-year period: fractional anisotropy (t(24)=2.70, p=0.013) & medial diffusivity (t(24)=-2.55, p=0.018). The CC fractional anisotropy at baseline significantly correlated with worsening of Trail Making Test B (TMT-B) t-score (r=-0.630, p=0.001) over the 2-year period.

Conclusions

Functional connectivity within the salience network & CC integrity significantly decreased over the 2-year period. Baseline connectivity was predictive of worsening depression scores over time, while baseline CC integrity was predictive of worsening in TMT-B t-score over time. Resting state functional connectivity & WM integrity could be biomarkers of pathological progression in contact sports athletes.

Authors/Disclosures
Anna Vasilevskaya, PhD PRESENTER	Anna Vasilevskaya has nothing to disclose.
Foad Taghdiri, MD, MSc (University of Toronto)	Dr. Taghdiri has nothing to disclose.
	No disclosure on file
Apameh Tarazi, MD (Toronto Western Hospital)	No disclosure on file
Seyed Ali Naeimi, MD (Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre)	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
David J. Mikulis, MD (Toronto Hosp Western Div)	Dr. Mikulis has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as an Expert Witness for Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers. Dr. Mikulis has received stock or an ownership interest from Thornhill Medical, Inc.. Dr. Mikulis has received intellectual property interests from a discovery or technology relating to health care.
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
	No disclosure on file
Carmela Tartaglia, MD (Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto)	Dr. Tartaglia has received personal compensation in the range of $0-$499 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Roche. The institution of Dr. Tartaglia has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Tartaglia has received research support from University of Toronto.

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