Study: Concussions slow aperiodic activity among high school football players
Results demonstrated that slowed aperiodic activity was present in brain areas linked to concussion symptoms such as impaired concentration and memory.
Study: Concussions slow aperiodic activity among high school football players | Image Credit: © Skip Monday - © Skip Monday - stock.adobe.com.
Results from a study presented at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) annual meeting revealed that concussions among high school football players affect an important brain signal that can slow aperiodic activity.1
According to a press release from RSNA, reports in recent years have highlighted the potential harms of contact sports among youth and those with developing brains.1
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 7 of 10 emergency department (ED) visits for sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and concussions are among children aged 17 years and younger, with boys having approximately twice the rate of ED visits compared to girls for similar injuries.2
The CDC ranks boys tackle football as No. 1 on a list of top 10 sports with the highest rates of concussions. In the sport, the federal agency notes that tackling is responsible for nearly 2 out of 3 concussions, and that almost half of concussions occur during running plays.2
Investigators of the study presented at RSNA, led by Kevin C. Yu, BS, neuroscience student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, noted previous concussion studies focused on periodic brain signals. In this study, to better understand brain rhythms and trauma, investigators aimed to identify impacts of concussions on aperiodic activity.1
"While it's often overlooked, aperiodic activity is important because it reflects brain cortical excitability," said study senior author Christopher T. Whitlow, MD, PhD, MHA in a statement. Whitlow is meschan distinguished professor and enterprise chair of Radiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
In the study, pre- and post-season resting-state magnetoencephalography (MEG) data from 91 high school football players was collected, of which 10 players were diagnosed with a concussion. According to the authors, MEG is a neuroimaging technique designed to measure that magnetic fields that are produced by the brain's electrical currents.1
Using the Post-Concussive Symptom Inventory tool for concussions, pre- and post-season physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms were correlated.1
Results demonstrated slowed aperiodic activity in parts of the brain containing chemicals that are associated with concussion symptoms, such as impaired or damaged concentration and memory.1
Slowed aperiodic activity was present in areas of the brain that contain chemicals linked with concussion symptoms like impaired concentration and memory.1
"This study is important because it provides insight into both the mechanisms and the clinical implications of concussion in the maturing adolescent brain," said co-lead author Alex I. Wiesman, PhD, assistant professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. "Reduced excitability is conceptually a very different brain activity change than altered rhythms and means that a clear next step for this work is to see whether these changes are related to effects of concussion on the brain's chemistry."1
The investigators noted the importance of protective measures for those participating in contact sports, and cautioned players to take the necessary and appropriate time to fully recover from a concussion before returning to play.1
The CDC stated the first chance a health care professional generally gets is not on the field, b ut an office or ED, in which an examination will likely include a physical examination to evaluate cognition, neurology, balance, and "any signs of deteriorating neurological function."2
When managing a student athlete with a concussion, the CDC recommends that management plans for a return to school and to the sidelines should include the monitoring of both physical and cognitive activities, a consideration of concussion history, and an individualized plan for each specific athlete impacted by a concussion.2
References:
1. Concussions slow brain activity of high school football players. Radiological Society of North America. Press release. November 26, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://press.rsna.org/timssnet/media/pressreleases/14_pr_target.cfm?id=2548
2. Managing return to activities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated April 15, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/hcp/clinical-guidance/index.html
