Cerebral Cortical Surface Structure and Neural Activation Pattern Among Adolescent Football Players.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sports Medicine
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Recurring head impacts in American football raise concerns about neurobiological effects in adolescent players.
• Existing research has not fully clarified the specific brain changes associated with football participation in this age group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in cortical structure and neurophysiological characteristics between adolescent football players and control athletes.
• To identify potential neurobiological markers associated with playing tackle football.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study comparing adolescent football players with control athletes (swimming, cross country, tennis) matched for age, sex, and school.
• Utilized structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for cortical thickness, sulcal depth, and gyrification.
• Employed resting-state functional MRI (RS-FMRI) to analyze amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and RS-functional connectivity (RS-FC).

Main Results:

• Football players exhibited significant cortical thinning in fronto-occipital regions and increased sulcal depth in areas like the cingulate cortex and precentral gyrus.
• Altered brain activity was observed, with lower ALFF in frontal and cingulate regions and elevated ALFF in occipital areas.
• Football players showed lower ReHo in medial brain regions and elevated ReHo in occipitotemporal regions; no differences in RS-FC were found.

Conclusions:

• Adolescent football players demonstrate measurable structural and neurophysiological brain differences compared to noncontact sport athletes.
• The identified brain alterations in football players involve regions often associated with mental health and cognitive functions.
• These findings highlight potential neurobiological consequences of playing football in adolescence.