Post-Concussion Syndrome in Professional Athletes: A Multidisciplinary Study

We hypothesize that repeated concussions in retired professional athletes will be associated with abnormalities in neurological, neuropsychological, biofluids and neuroimaging assessments. The primary objectives of the study are:

• To determine the effects of repeated concussions on neurological, neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning.
• To determine the relationship between repeated concussions and neuroanatomical abnormalities in brain gray and white matter subserving cognitive and motor functions using structural MRI assessment.
• To determine the relationship between repeated concussions and changes in the cerebrospinal fluid composition.
• To (i) establish the infrastructure to conduct ongoing pathological examination of donated brains.
• In order to investigate whether the effects of repeated concussions on brain function and brain structure are progressive and related to the condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, prospective, longitudinal, follow-up data will be collected

Inclusion criteria

fluent in English, and a history of multiple concussions , low exposures , or no concussions (Control group ). Determination of concussion exposure will be determined as follows: Previous concussion will be based on the player's recall of injury and defined as "an injury resulting from a blow to the head that caused an alteration in mental status and one or more of the following symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness/balance problems, fatigue, trouble sleeping, drowsiness, sensitivity to light or noise, blurred vision, difficulty remembering, and difficulty concentrating.

Exclusion criteria

Neurological disorders prior to concussions (e.g.: seizure disorder); systemic illnesses known to affect the brain (e.g., diabetes and lupus); a history of psychotic disorder; known developmental disorders (e.g., attention deficit disorder, dyslexia); history of migraines; and, active engagement in litigation.