title: Alterations in resting-state brain networks in concussed adolescent athletes.
abstract: Sports-related concussion in adolescents is a major public health issue; however, little is known about the underlying changes in functional brain connectivity. We evaluated connectivity of resting-state brain networks to determine whether alterations in specific networks distinguish adolescents with sports-related concussion from a group of healthy, active control adolescents. Twelve adolescents with a clinical diagnosis of subacute concussion and ten healthy adolescents matched for age, gender, and physical activity completed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanning. Functional connectivity of resting-state brain networks was evaluated in both groups using probabilistic independent component analysis (ICA). Altered functional connectivity was found within three resting-state networks in adolescents with concussion. Specifically, we noted: a) alterations within the default mode network; b) increased connectivity in the right frontal pole in the executive function network; and c) increased connectivity in the left frontal operculum cortex associated with the ventral attention network. This preliminary report shows that whole-brain functional connectivity is altered in networks related to cognition and attention in adolescents in the subacute phase following sports-related concussion. This first report in adolescents should be used to inform future studies in larger cohorts of adolescents with sports-related concussion. Increased knowledge of these changes may lead to improvements in clinical management and help to develop rehabilitation programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borich
authors.forename: Aliya-Nur
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Babul
authors.forename: Po Hsiang
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Naznin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Virji-Babul
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: adolescents; concussion; fMRI; resting-state networks