Recovery Profiles Following Concussion Among Male Athletes with a Family History of Neurodegenerative Disease: Data from the NCAA-DOD CARE Consortium
ObjectiveLongitudinally assess recovery following concussion in male athletes with fhNDD.BackgroundResearch suggests that a family history of neurodegenerative disease (fhNDD) may predispose an athlete to abnormal recovery following brain injury. However, no one has longitudinally assessed recovery following concussion in male athletes with fhNDD.Design/MethodsData from the NCAA-DOD Grand Alliance: Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (CARE) Consortium were used to compared male athletes with (n = 51) and without (n = 102) a family history of neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Non-Alzheimer’s Dementia, and Mild Cognitive Impairment). All athletes completed baseline ImPACT assessments prior to the beginning of their sporting season. Athletes that sustained a concussion were then re-evaluated 24-48 hours post-injury, prior to un-restricted return to play (RTP), and again 6 months post-injury. Athletes without fhNDD were double matched based on age, body mass index, sport category, and concussion history.ResultsRepeated measures ANCOVA models were used to evaluate performance at each post-injury timepoint, while controlling for baseline performance. A group × time interaction was observed for visual memory performance. Post-hoc univariate analyses revealed that male athletes with fhNDD demonstrated significantly poorer visual memory performance 24–48 hours post-injury compared to controls (p ≤ 0.005). Additionally, we found a main effect of group for impulse control, indicating that male athletes with fhNDD demonstrated an increase number of impulse errors at all three post-injury evaluations (p ≤ 0.004). We did not to observe any other group differences (p’s > 0.05).ConclusionsOur results suggest that male athletes with a family history of neurodegenerative disease may exhibit greater post-injury cognitive deficits compared to controls. Additionally, some deficits may persist for at least 6 months post-injury. Further research is warranted to investigate the interaction between family history of neurodegenerative disease and concussion.