%0 Journal Article
%T Repetitive head impact exposure and later-life plasma total tau in former National Football League players
%J Alzheimer's and dementia: diagnosis, assessment and disease monitoring
%D 2017
%A Alosco, Michael L.
%A Tripodis, Yorghos
%A Jarnagin, Johnny
%A Baugh, Christine M.
%A Martin, Brett
%A Chaisson, Christine E.
%A Estochen, Nate
%A Song, Linan
%A Cantu, Robert C.
%A Jeromin, Andreas
%A Stern, Robert A.
%V 7
%N 
%P 33-40
%X INTRODUCTION: Blood protein analysis of total tau (t-tau) may be a practical screening biomarker for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative tauopathy associated with repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure. We examined plasma t-tau in symptomatic former National Football League (NFL) players compared with controls and the relationship between RHI exposure and later-life plasma t-tau. <br><br>METHODS: Ninety-six former NFL players (age 40-69) and 25 same-age controls underwent blood draw to determine plasma t-tau levels. The cumulative head impact index (CHII) quantified RHI exposure. Subjects completed measures of clinical function. <br><br>RESULTS: A higher CHII predicted greater plasma t-tau in the former NFL players (P = .0137). No group differences in plasma t-tau emerged, but a concentration ≥3.56 pg/mL was 100% specific to former NFL players. Plasma t-tau did not predict clinical function. <br><br>DISCUSSION: Greater RHI exposure predicted higher later-life plasma t-tau concentrations, and further study on plasma t-tau as a candidate screening biomarker for CTE is warranted.  Keywords: American football; <p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Elsevier Publishing
%@ 2352-8729
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dadm.2016.11.003