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Disruption of function: Neurophysiological markers of cognitive deficits in retired football players

2018; Elsevier BV; Volume: 130; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.clinph.2018.10.013

1872-8952

Kyle I. Ruiter, Rober Boshra, Mitchell Doughty, Michael D. Noseworthy, John F. Connolly,

Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Recent studies demonstrate that sports-related concussions can have negative consequences on long-term brain health. The goal of the present study was to determine whether retired Canadian Football League (CFL) athletes with a history of concussions exhibit alterations in neurocognitive functioning, along with changes in physical, social, and psychological health. Our study compared nineteen retired CFL athletes' concussion histories to eighteen healthy age-matched controls with no history of concussion. Self-report inventories were used to assess depression, memory, attention, and general health. Neurophysiological markers of cognitive function were evaluated with event-related brain potentials (ERPs) as measured in two protocols: (1) A Mismatch Negativity (MMN) protocol for assessing the automatic early attentional brain mechanism; and, (2) a P300 auditory oddball task for assessing consciously controlled attention. Relative to controls, CFL players exhibited: response delays and reduced amplitudes in neurophysiological responses; overall decreases in cognitive function; and poorer scores on self-reports of physical, social, and psychological health; reflecting problems in all three categories. Our findings demonstrate that multiple concussions sustained over several years can lead to altered cognitive and psychosocial function. Neurophysiological markers of conscious and pre-conscious attention provide an objective assessment for evaluating long-term cognitive consequences of concussion.