Multiple nonconcussive head collisions do not result in significant problems for most athletes, but a subgroup may be vulnerable.
In athletes, multiple “hits on the head,” unlike concussions, can involve forceful helmet-to-helmet contact without altered sensorium, but do they produce similarly deleterious cognitive effects? Researchers (some with industry interests) prospectively monitored cognition in 214 college varsity athletes in contact sports (football and ice hockey) and 45 noncontact sport athletes (e.g., crew).
Contact sport athletes wore special helmets registering force of impact. Participants completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT) at preseason and immediate postseason (mean days after last impact, 26). An overlapping cohort (45 contact athletes; 55 controls) underwent more comprehensive cognitive testing. At preseason…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)