Brain glucose metabolism and gray matter volume in retired professional soccer players: a cross-sectional [18F]FDG-PET/MRI study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Professional soccer athletes are exposed to repetitive head impacts and are at risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Objective

To evaluate regional brain glucose metabolism (rBGM) and gray matter (GM) volume in retired soccer players (RSPs).

Methods

Male RSPs and age and sex-matched controls prospectively enrolled between 2017 and 2019 underwent neurological and neuropsychological evaluations, brain MRI and [18F]FDG-PET in a 3.0-Tesla PET/MRI scanner. Visual analysis was performed by a blinded neuroradiologist and a blinded nuclear physician. Regional brain glucose metabolism and GM volume were assessed using SPM8 software. Groups were compared using appropriate statistical tests available at SPM8 and R.

Results

Nineteen RSPs (median [

SUBMITTER: Aranha MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10232036 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature