Professional Fighters Brain Health Study: Rationale and Methods

Bernick, Charles; Banks, Sarah J.; Phillips, Micheal D.; Lowe, Mark J.; Shin, Wanyong; Obuchowski, Nancy A.; Jones, Stephen E.; Modic, Michael T.

doi:10.1093/aje/kws456

Cited by 68 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…10,[18][19][20][21][22] Early results from the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study, a 5-year longitudinal study of boxers and mixed martial arts fighters, who experienced repetitive subconcussive injuries as well as concussions, indicate that earlier age of first exposure to competitive boxing correlates with greater loss of caudate volume and greater axonal damage in the frontal lobe. 23,24 The young brain also has features that contribute to its resilience. Increased neuroplasticity in this age group has been shown to contribute to better outcomes after focal injuries.…”

Section: Susceptibility and Resilience Of Young Brainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similar to a 'pitch count' in baseball, this concept has also recently been proposed for boxers. 24 No evidence is currently available to show a causal link between repetitive subconcussive 67 although the relationship between mTBI and PD risk remains uncertain. 68 In paediatric populations, particularly young athletes, the effects of single or repetitive concussions on the risk of later-life neurodegeneration and dementia are unknown.…”

Section: Subconcussive Blowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mind the gaps—advancing research into short-term and long-term neuropsychological outcomes of youth sports-related concussions

et al. 2015

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Section: Susceptibility and Resilience Of Young Brainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Subconcussive Blowsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mind the gaps—advancing research into short-term and long-term neuropsychological outcomes of youth sports-related concussions

et al. 2015

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“…7 Briefly, professional fighters with a history of either boxing or mixed martial arts fighting were recruited in two cohorts, active and retired. Once screened for their appropriateness for the study, including ability and willingness to undergo an MRI, they were consented and underwent a visit including a structured interview on demographics and fight exposure, cognitive testing using central nervous system (CNS) vital signs, blood draw for genetic analysis, and MRI scan including anatomical and functional images.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, correlations existed between these regions and cognitive ability, suggesting a functional impact of the anatomic-fight exposure relationship. 6,7 More recently, we started to collect genetic data on participants. We tested the hypothesis that previously revealed that relationships would be moderated by e4 status.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lack of Influence of Apolipoprotein E Status on Cognition or Brain Structure in Professional Fighters

Banks

Miller

Rissman

et al. 2017

Journal of Neurotrauma

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The role of the apolipoprotein e4 allele in moderating cognitive and neuroanatomical degeneration following repeated traumatic brain injury is controversial. Here we sought to establish the presence or absence of such a moderating relationship in a prospective study of active and retired boxers and mixed martial arts fighters. Fighters (n = 193) underwent cognitive evaluations, interviews regarding fight history, MRI of the brain, and genetic testing. We used a series of moderator analyses to test for any relationship of apolipoprotein genotype on structural volumes of brain regions previously established to be smaller in those with the most fight exposure, and on cognitive abilities also established to be sensitive to fight exposure. No moderating relationship was detected in any of the analyses. The results of this study suggest that there is no impact of apolipoprotein genotype on the apparent negative association between exposure to professional fighting and brain structure volume or aspects of cognition.

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“…This sport has grown and expanded immensely, attracting media, spectators and sponsors, and increased participants in specialized martial arts academies (Sheridan, 2010). This MMA phenomenon has drawn the attention of researchers from different fields, such as medicine (Bernick, et al, 2013), sociology (Spencer, 2014), motor behavior (Baker & Schorer, 2013), and sports training (Del Vecchio & Ferreira, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%