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Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: January 20, 2023
Sports-Injury Encephalopathy
Angeline Prabhu1, Bilal Abaid1, Samreen Fathima1
1From the Internal Medicine, Canton Medical Education Foundation, Canton, Ohio; Division of Infectious Diseases, and the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
Sports-related head trauma can cause concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathies (CTE), leading to cognitive decline and dementia. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing these neurodegenerative conditions in athletes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Sports-related head trauma is a growing concern, particularly in contact sports.
- Concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathies (CTE) are common neuropsychological conditions resulting from head injuries.
- Repetitive head trauma can lead to progressive neurodegeneration, parkinsonism, and dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of sports-related encephalopathies.
- To highlight the clinical presentation and diagnostic challenges of concussions and CTE.
- To emphasize the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on sports-related encephalopathies, concussions, and CTE.
- Discussion of neuroimaging techniques (dMRI, MRS, fMRI) for detecting pathological changes.
- Pathological examination findings, including tau protein degeneration.
Main Results:
- Concussions range from asymptomatic to severe, with potential for loss of consciousness and amnesia.
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathies (CTE) present as a progressive neurodegenerative disease with cognitive and neurological deficits.
- Advanced imaging techniques can detect changes indicative of encephalopathies, though conventional imaging may be noncontributory.
- Pathological examination confirms neuronal degeneration and tau protein accumulation.
Conclusions:
- Sports-related encephalopathies, including CTE, pose significant risks to athletes' long-term brain health.
- Early identification and management strategies are essential for mitigating the impact of head trauma.
- Multimodal diagnostic approaches, including advanced neuroimaging, are vital for accurate assessment.
