Mind the gaps—advancing research into short-term and long-term neuropsychological outcomes of youth sports-related concussions (original) (raw)
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Nature Reviews Neurology, 2015
Sports-related concussions and repetitive subconcussive exposure are increasingly recognized as potential dangers to paediatric populations, but much remains unknown about the short-term and longterm consequences of these events, including potential cognitive impairment and risk of later-life dementia. This Expert Consensus Document is the result of a 1-day meeting convened by Safe Kids Worldwide, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, and the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. The goal is to highlight knowledge gaps and areas of critically needed research in the areas of concussion science, dementia, genetics, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, neuroimaging, sports injury surveillance, and information sharing. For each of these areas, we propose clear and achievable paths to improve the understanding, treatment and prevention of youth sports-related concussions.
Concussions and Brain Injuries in Youth Sports
Rhode Island medical journal, 2015
4Symptoms may appear mild but the injury can lead to life-long problems with physical function, concentration, memory, behavior, and emotion. Tragically, among high-school football athletes there were eight fatalities directly related to brain injuries in the 2013 season. 5 At present, all fifty states have sports concussion laws modeled after the 2009 law in Washington that resulted from Zackery Lystedt’s tragedy. Every law includes three components: education about the nature and risk of concussion and head injury for coaches, athletes, and parents/guardians; removal from play after a suspected concussion; and return to play with the approval of a trained and licensed practitioner. 6
Current Issues in Pediatric Sports Concussion
The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 2011
This article reviews current issues in the following areas of pediatric sports-related concussion: incidence of concussion, potential long-term effects, return to play, and the emergence of legislation regarding concussion education and management programs. Incidence of concussion is presented in context of emergency room visits, as well as underreporting of concussions. The literature on history of concussion is reviewed, for high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, with respect to potential long-term effects of cerebral concussion. Specific discussions of effects include: decreased cognition and increased symptom reporting following multiple concussions, and recent diagnoses of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in non-professional and youth athletes. Recent legislative and advocacy efforts are reviewed, including mandated programs in specific states.
The long-term outcomes of sport-related concussion in pediatric populations
International Journal of Psychophysiology, 2018
Although the field of concussion research is rapidly growing, the majority of research has focused on injured adults, with children being an often-neglected population. Traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of death and disability in children, with over 1.5 million cases being treated in North America annually. Approximately 75% of these injuries are classified as a concussion. Further, children are disproportionately affected by sports-related injuries, with 65% of all pediatric concussions occurring during sport and recreation. Therefore, understanding the outcomes of pediatric sportrelated concussion is of great importance, particularly given the vulnerability of the developing brain. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date understanding of the outcomes of pediatric sport-related concussion from a data-driven perspective, focusing heavily on experimental studies.
Risk factors to sport-related concussion for junior athletes
Abstract Introduction As more than just an enjoyable activity, team sport offers a range of invaluable benefits to players and has the potential to provide personal, physical and social growth. Despite the many benefits of team sport participation, these benefits do not come without some cost. Although there are strict rules and guidelines in all contact sports, the risk of injuries such as concussion are impossible to prevent completely. Sport-related concussion is a growing concern in contact sport; however, the underlying risk factors and epidemiology of sport-related concussion in junior athletes is not well understood. The notable cognitive, hormonal and neurophysiological changes occurring during development throughout late childhood and adolescence potentially places paediatric athletes at greater risk of sustaining and experiencing enduring effects of brain injury. The aim of this review is to discuss the risk factors to sport-related concussion for junior athletes. Discussi...
Journal of Neurotrauma, 2022
Evidence suggests neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) may be associated with an increased incidence of concussion, but no studies have cross-sectionally and longitudinally assessed the associations of NDs and sex with concussion in collegiate athletes. We sought to assess the odds and relative risk (RR) of concussion in athletes self-reporting a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disability (LD), and ADHD+LD. Data from the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium (2014–2017) were used to evaluate the likelihood of concussion for male and female athletes with ADHD, LD, and ADHD+LD, relative to controls. Odds ratios (ORs) of concussion history prior to enrollment and relative risk ratios for incurring a concussion following enrollment, with and without concussion history were calculated for all groups. Athletes with self-reported diagnosis of ADHD, LD, and ADHD+LD were more likely to report a single concussion (OR range = 1.528 to 1.828) and multiple concussions (OR range = 1.849 to 2.365) prior to enrollment in the CARE Consortium, irrespective of sex compared with control athletes. While enrolled in CARE, male athletes with ADHD, LD, and ADHD+LD had greater risk of incurring a concussion (RR range = 1.369 to 2.243) than controls, irrespective of concussion history. Male athletes with ADHD+LD with concussion history (RR = 2.221) and without concussion history (RR = 1.835) had greater risk of incurring a concussion than controls. These results suggest NDs may be associated with increased odds of single and multiple concussions, irrespective of sex. However, when we accounted for concussion history, it appears only male athletes with ADHD+LD had greater risk than respective controls. There were no significant differences between females and males with ADHD, LD, or ADHD+LD for either odds of concussion history or risk for incurring concussion.
Enduring effects of concussion in youth athletes
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 2002
The purpose of this study was to explore the mild, enduring effects of concussion in otherwise healthy youth athletes. Reported history of concussion and cognitive functioning was examined in an initial sample of 35 youth athletes, 21 of whom were considered healthy volunteers (No Recent Concussion within the past 6 months) with no identified medical or neuropsychological difficulties related to concussion. The remaining 14 volunteers had each sustained a concussion within 1 week of testing (Recent Concussion). Significant differences in performances on a general cognitive measure, and specifically in the area of attention, were found as a function of number of concussions reported by the No Recent Concussion athletes. Furthermore, on some of the measures, No Recent Concussion athletes with a history of two or more concussions appeared to resemble Recent Concussion athletes more so than No Recent Concussion athletes with a history of one or no concussion. The importance of assessment of youth concussion and the use of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) for this purpose are discussed.