title: Developmental and gender influences on executive function following concussion in youth hockey players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Concussion is the most common athletic injury in youth who are simultaneously undergoing rapid developmental changes in the brain, specifically the development of executive functions (EF). The developing brain is more vulnerable to concussive injury with a protracted and different trajectory of recovery than that of adults. Thus, there is a critical need to enhance understanding of how concussion affects EF in youth.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of age, gender and concussion history (i.e. concussion incidence, recency, severity) on EF in youth hockey players.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 3-year cross-sectional and longitudinal multiple cohort study examined data from 211 hockey players of 8-15 years of age. Mixed-effects modelling was used to examine the influence of age, gender and concussion on EF in youth athletes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline analyses revealed significant age and gender effects on measures of EF. Multiple effects of concussion history on measures of cognitive flexibility (F = 2.48, p = 0.03) and psychomotor speed (F = 2.59, p = 0.04) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the impact of age, gender and concussion on EF in youth. These findings provide foundational knowledge to better manage cognitive sequelae following sports-related concussion.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .|b Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada .|c Pencer Brain Tumor Centre, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Ilyse D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Lax
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .|b Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada .|d Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paniccia
authors.affiliation: b Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada .|d Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Agnihotri
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .|b Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada .|d Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.affiliation: e Graduate Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University , Toronto , ON , Canada .|g Consulting, Deloitte Inc. , Toronto , ON , Canada , and.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garmaise
authors.affiliation: e Graduate Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Mahdis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azadbakhsh
authors.affiliation: e Graduate Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: e Graduate Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.affiliation: b Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada .|d Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wiseman-Hakes
authors.affiliation: h Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.affiliation: a Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy , University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .|b Bloorview Research Institute, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital , Toronto , ON , Canada .|d Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto , Toronto , ON , Canada .|e Graduate Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University , Toronto , ON , Canada .|f Department of Psychology , University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada .
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keightley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: Athletes; concussion; executive functioning; gender; youth