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In a study of the burden of impact on the head and change in neurocognitive function during a junior football season, the researchers found that the concussion impacts are not correlated with a deterioration performance of the neurocognitive function.
Every year, more than 3 million elementary and high school students play football in the United States. The growing concern about the possible negative effects of repeated sub concussion impacts has led to an increase in the number of physicians and parents who discourage youth from participating in full contact sports.
A research team, led by Sean Rose, MD, pediatric neurologist and co-director of the Complex Concussion Clinic of the Nationwide Children's Hospital, followed 112 young football players aged 9 to 18 during the 2016 season as part of a prospective study.
"In trying to determine the chronic effects of repeated sub-concussion impacts, prospective-outcome studies are an important complement to existing retrospective studies," Dr. Rose said. "In this study of primary and secondary school football players, a battery of neurocognitive outcome tests did not detect performance degradation associated with cumulative impacts on the head."
The pre- and post-season evaluations used to measure the results included:
- Neuropsychological tests
- Symptom evaluation
- Vestibular and oculomotor screening
- Balance test
- Symptoms of ADHD reported by parents
- Self-reported behavior adjustment
The sensors placed in the helmets recorded the sub-concussional impacts of the head during training and games. The researchers added that the impact forces g were to generate a cumulative impact measure. According to the study, the cumulative impact predicted no change (from pre-season to post-season) in any of the outcome measures. In addition, Dr. Rose noted that having one or more concussions prior to participating in the study was not associated with less favorable pre-season testing.
In their secondary analysis, they found that early age and history of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) predicted changes in scores on several measures of cognitive testing and symptoms. ADHD reported by the parents. In addition, a history of reported anxiety or depression predicted changes in symptom notification scores.
"We expected the repetitive effects to be correlated with a deterioration in neurocognitive function, but we found that subconcussional head impacts experienced during a season were not associated with functional neurocognitive outcomes, not associated with worse outcomes, "says Dr. Rose. "The absence of a significant association may reflect the need for a longer follow-up, so we continue to follow the children throughout the season."
This publication is the first analysis of a prospective four-year cohort study. Dr. Rose will present data from the second year of the study at the next meeting of the Child Neurology Society in mid-October. The team is currently collecting data for a third year.
Explore further:
Brain changes observed in young football players without concussion
More information:
Rose SC, Yeates KO, Fuerst DR, PM Ercole, Nguyen JT, Pizzimenti NM. Burden of impact on the head and modification of neurocognitive function during a junior football season. the Rehabilitation diary for traumatic brain injury. [Epub ahead of print.]
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