Diffuse white matter tract abnormalities in clinically normal ageing retired athletes with a history of sports-related concussions.

ABSTRACT: Sports-related concussions have been shown to lead to persistent subclinical anomalies of the motor and cognitive systems in young asymptomatic athletes. In advancing age, these latent alterations correlate with detectable motor and cognitive function decline. Until now, the interacting effects of concussions and the normal ageing process on white matter tract integrity remain unknown. Here we used a tract-based spatial statistical method to uncover potential white matter tissue damage in 15 retired athletes with a history of concussions, free of comorbid medical conditions. We also investigated potential associations between white matter integrity and declines in cognitive and motor functions. Compared to an age- and education-matched control group of 15 retired athletes without concussio

SUBMITTER: Tremblay S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4208464 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature