title: Subconcussive Head Impact Exposure and White Matter Tract Changes over a Single Season of Youth Football.
abstract: Purpose To examine the effects of subconcussive impacts resulting from a single season of youth (age range, 8-13 years) football on changes in specific white matter (WM) tracts as detected with diffusion-tensor imaging in the absence of clinically diagnosed concussions. Materials and Methods Head impact data were recorded by using the Head Impact Telemetry system and quantified as the combined-probability risk-weighted cumulative exposure (RWECP). Twenty-five male participants were evaluated for seasonal fractional anisotropy (FA) changes in specific WM tracts: the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF), inferior longitudinal fasciculus, and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). Fiber tracts were segmented into a central core and two fiber terminals. The relationship between seasonal FA change in the whole fiber, central core, and the fiber terminals with RWECPwas also investigated. Linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between RWECPand change in fiber tract FA during the season. Results There were statistically significant linear relationships between RWEcpand decreased FA in the whole (R2= 0.433; P = .003), core (R2= 0.3649; P = .007), and terminals (R2= 0.5666; P < .001) of left IFOF. A trend toward statistical significance (P = .08) in right SLF was observed. A statistically significant correlation between decrease in FA of the right SLF terminal and RWECPwas also observed (R2= 0.2893; P = .028). Conclusion This study found a statistically significant relationship between head impact exposure and change of FA fractional anisotropy value of whole, core, and terminals of left IFOF and right SLF's terminals where WM and gray matter intersect, in the absence of a clinically diagnosed concussion.©RSNA, 2016.
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Naeim
authors: N
authors: Bahrami
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Dev
authors: D
authors: Sharma
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Scott
authors: S
authors: Rosenthal
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Elizabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Davenport
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Jillian E
authors: JE
authors: Urban
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Wagner
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Youngkyoo
authors: Y
authors: Jung
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Christopher G
authors: CG
authors: Vaughan
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Gerard A
authors: GA
authors: Gioia
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Joel D
authors: JD
authors: Stitzel
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Christopher T
authors: CT
authors: Whitlow
authors: From the Advanced Neuroscience Imaging Research (ANSIR) Laboratory (N.B., D.S., E.M.D., Y.J., C.T.W., J.A.M.), Wake Forest School of Medicine (S.R.), Department of Radiology-Neuroradiology (Y.J., C.T.W.), Department of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Department of Family and Community Medicine (C.T.W.), Department of Neurosurgery (C.T.W.), Virginia Tech-Wake Forest School of Biomedical Engineering (N.B., J.E.U., Y.J., J.D.S., C.T.W.), Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology (C.G.V., G.A.G.), Children's National Health System, George Washington University School of Medicine, Rockville, Md; Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC (J.D.S.); and Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex (E.M.D., B.W., J.A.M.).
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Maldjian
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000473:pathology; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000473:pathology; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*