title: MR Spectroscopy Findings in Retired Professional Rugby League Players.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine brain neurometabolite concentrations in retired rugby league players who had a history of numerous self-reported concussions. Participants were 16 retired professional rugby league players (ages 30-45 years) with an extensive history of concussion and participation in contact sports, and 16 age- and education-matched controls who had no history of neurotrauma or participation in contact sports. All completed a clinical interview, psychological and cognitive testing, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) investigation. MRS voxels were placed in posterior cingulate grey matter and parietal white matter. Neurometabolite concentrations were quantified using LCModel. It was hypothesized that retired athletes would differ on N-acetyl aspartate, myo-inositol, choline, glutamate, and glutathione. Retired players had significantly lower concentrations of grey matter glutathione (p=0.02, d=0.91). They did not significantly differ in concentrations of other neurometabolites. There were no significant differences between groups on measures of depression, anxiety, or cognitive functioning. The retired athletes reported significantly greater alcohol use (p<0.01; Cohen's d=1.49), and they had worse manual dexterity using their non-dominant hand (p=0.03; d=1.08). These preliminary findings suggest that MRS might be modestly sensitive to biochemical differences in athletes after their athletic careers have ended in the absence of clinical differences in cognitive performance and self-reported psychological functioning.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Translational Neuroscience & Mental Health, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Newcastle, Waratah, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Grant L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Iverson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wojtowicz
authors.affiliation: Sports Concussion Program, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kay-Lambkin
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatry Service, Hunter New England Local Health District, New Lambton, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zafonte
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Sandy R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shultz
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stanwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D056352:Athletes; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002794:Choline / Q000032:analysis; D005538:Football; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007294:Inositol / Q000032:analysis; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012179:Retirement
chemical_list: D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007294:Inositol; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D005978:Glutathione; D002794:Choline