title: Genetics and Other Risk Factors for Past Concussions in Active-Duty Soldiers.
abstract: Risk factors for concussion in active-duty military service members are poorly understood. The present study examined the association between self-reported concussion history and genetics (apolipoprotein E [APOE], brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF], and D2 dopamine receptor genes [DRD2]), trait personality measures (impulsive-sensation seeking and trait aggression-hostility), and current alcohol use. The sample included 458 soldiers who were preparing to deploy for Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. For those with the BDNF Met/Met genotype, 57.9% (11/19) had a history of one or more prior concussions, compared with 35.6% (154/432) of those with other BDNF genotypes (p = 0.049, odds ratio [OR] = 2.48). APOE and DRD2 genotypes were not associated with risk for past concussions. Those with the BDNF Met/Met genotype also reported greater aggression and hostility personality characteristics. When combined in a predictive model, prior military deployments, being male, and having the BDNF Met/Met genotype were independently associated with increased lifetime history of concussions in active-duty soldiers. Replication in larger independent samples is necessary to have more confidence in both the positive and negative genetic associations reported in this study.
authors.affiliation: 1 United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory , Fort Rucker, Alabama.|2 Human Dimension Division (HDD), Headquarters Army Training and Doctrine Command (HQ TRADOC) , Fort Eustis, Virginia.
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Dretsch
authors.affiliation: 3 Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada .|4 GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada .|5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Silverberg
authors.affiliation: 6 Hunter New England Local Health District Sports Concussion Program and Centre for Stroke and Brain Injury, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW, Australia .
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: 7 Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia , Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada .
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Panenka
authors.affiliation: 5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Emmerich
authors.affiliation: 5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Gogce
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crynen
authors.affiliation: 5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Ghania
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ait-Ghezala
authors.affiliation: 5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaytow
authors.affiliation: 5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Venkat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mathura
authors.affiliation: 5 Roskamp Institute , Sarasota, Florida.
authors.forename: Fiona C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: 8 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.|9 Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Home Base, Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program , Boston, Massachusetts.|10 Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center , Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Grant L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Iverson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology*; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C000612345:ApoE protein, human; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C581293:DRD2 protein, human; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; C579455:BDNF protein, human
keywords: APOE; BDNF; DRD2; concussion; genetics; mild traumatic brain injury; military; personality