Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Echemendia, Ruben
• Walton, Samuel
• Kerr, Zachary
• Brett, Benjamin
• Chandran, Avinash
• DeFreese, JD
• McCrea, Michael
• Guskiewicz, Kevin
• Meehan, William

Titel

9.8 The relationship between self-reported concussion history and concern for cognitive dysfunction among former NFL players: an NFL-long study

Ist Teil von

• British journal of sports medicine, 2024-01, Vol.58 (Suppl 1), p.A46-A47

Ort / Verlag

London: BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine

Erscheinungsjahr

2024

Quelle

BMJ Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• ObjectiveTo determine the relationship between Self-Reported Lifetime Concussions (SR-CHx) and concerns (both current and while playing) regarding memory, thinking abilities and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among former National Football League (NFL) players.DesignCross-sectional.SettingSurvey of former NFL playersParticipants1,550 former NFL players with >1 SR-CHx (aged=52.53±17.6; years retired=24.1±15.1; years playing football=17.6±4.4).Independent VariablesFour groups based on SR-CHx: SR-CHx=1–2 (n=313), SR-CHx=3–5 (n=425), SR-CHx=6–9 (n=366), SR-CHx=10+ (n=446).Outcome MeasuresTwo 5-point Likert scales (‘not at all concerned’ to ‘extremely concerned’) assessed current concern and retrospectively while playing professional football. Chi-squared (χ 2) analyses with Cramer’s V effect-sizes determined whether level of concern differed by SR-CHx.Main ResultsPlayers endorsed greater concerns regarding functioning now when compared to while playing. For example, 37% are Extremely concerned about Memory now versus 6% while playing, Thinking=38% now vs 8% then, and CTE=40% now vs <1% then. Higher SR-CHx was associated with greater concern for memory (χ 2 15=328.1; p<0.01; V=0.27), thinking (χ 2 15=340.5; p<0.01; V=0.27), and CTE (χ 2 15=288.8; p<0.01; V=0.25).ConclusionsThere has been great public focus on the effects of multiple concussions on later life functioning, particularly among NFL players. This study suggests the majority of NFL players were not concerned about the effects of concussions while they were playing in the NFL, but have become concerned since leaving the NFL. The data suggest that level of concern increased proportionately to the self-reported number of lifetime concussions. Future research will investigate the extent to which this concern parallels measurable decreases in functioning.