@article{ref1,
title="Head impact burden and change in neurocognitive function during a season of youth football",
journal="Journal of head trauma rehabilitation",
year="2019",
author="Rose, Sean Carroll and Yeates, Keith O. and Fuerst, Darren R. and Ercole, Patrick M. and Nguyen, Joseph T. and Pizzimenti, Natalie M.",
volume="34",
number="2",
pages="87-95",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of repetitive subconcussive head impacts with functional outcomes in primary and high school tackle football players. SETTING: Youth football fields and an outpatient sports neurology clinic. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 112 primary school (n = 55, age 9-12 years) and high school (n = 57, age 15-18 years) football players. <br><br>DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. MAIN MEASURES: Helmet-based sensors were used to record head impacts during practices and games during the 2016 football season. Impact g-forces were summed to yield a measure of cumulative impact. History of self-reported premorbid medical diagnoses was obtained preseason. Players completed assessments of a variety of outcomes both pre- and postseason: neuropsychological test performance, symptoms, vestibular and ocular-motor screening, balance, parent-completed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, and self-reported behavioral adjustment. <br><br>RESULTS: Average cumulative impact was 3700 (standard deviation = 2700) g-forces for the season and did not differ between age groups (P =.594). Cumulative impact did not predict pre- to postseason change scores on any outcome measures (all P >.05). Instead, younger age group and reported history of premorbid ADHD predicted change scores on several cognitive testing measures and parent-reported ADHD symptoms, while reported history of premorbid anxiety and depression predicted change scores on symptom reporting. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In youth tackle football, subconcussive head impacts sustained over the course of a single season may not be associated with neurocognitive functional outcomes. The absence of a significant association may reflect the relatively short follow-up interval, and signals the need for studies across multiple seasons.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0885-9701",
doi="10.1097/HTR.0000000000000441",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000441"
}