Citation

Alosco ML, Jarnagin J, Tripodis Y, Martin B, Chaisson C, Baugh CM, Torres A, Nowinski CJ, Cantu RC, Stern RA. Brain Inj. 2017; 31(8): 1116-1123.

Affiliation

Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology , Boston University School of Medicine , Boston , MA , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2017.1294709

PMID

28471243

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Former National Football League (NFL) players' working knowledge of concussion has not yet been evaluated, despite this population being a major clinical research target due to the association between repetitive head impacts (RHI) and long-term clinical impairments. This study examined former NFL players' understanding of the current concussion definition, and the association between number of concussions with clinical function.

METHODS: 95 former NFL players (mean age = 55.29; mean NFL year = 8.10) self-reported number of concussions before being provided with a concussion definition and after being read a modern definition of concussion. Subjects reported number of concussions with loss of consciousness (LOC). Principal Component Analysis of a battery of tests generated behaviour/mood, psychomotor speed/executive function, and verbal and visual memory factor scores.

RESULTS: Post-definition number of concussions (median = 50) was five times the pre-definition (median = 10; p < 0.001). Greater pre- (p = 0.019) and post-definition concussions (p = 0.036) correlated with worse behaviour/mood scores, after controlling for years of football played, with specific effects for depressive symptoms and impulsivity. LOC did not account for variance beyond number of concussions.

CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners and clinical researchers should provide a definition of concussion in the assessment of concussion history in former football players to facilitate accuracy and standardization.

Keywords: American football

Language: en

Keywords

American football; concussion knowledge; depression; impulsivity; mild traumatic brain injury