Cognitive consequences of sport-related traumatic brain injuries in adolescents in Slovakia

Abstract Background Many sports are associated with an increased risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI), often in a form of repeated minor trauma. While the pathophysiological changes of the brain after TBI have been relatively well studied, data on cognitive aspects are relatively scarce. The main objective of this study was to measure the cognitive consequences of repeated heading in a controlled set of training exercises in 21 years old football players. Methods The study design is quasi-experiment. Participants consisted of male football players (N = 27) and were tested under 3 conditions: before the sports activity, after the sports activity not involving heading, after the sport activity focused on heading. To monitor the cognitive changes we used neuropsychological methods: the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Verbal reproduction test. Blood samples were taken to analyse the presence of biomarkers (glucose). Linear regression and repeated-measures ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. Results The data showed significant relationships between the glucose level (before and 1-hour after the heading) and the TMT (part B) score /(F(1,22)=6.03; p=.001; R-square=.223/. Based on TMT (part B) scores, the cognitive flexibility and glucose lowered after the sessions. For both parts of TMT we found significantly worse scores after both training sessions compared to baseline testing (Part A: F(2,46)=189.354; p<.001; Eta2=.892; Part B: F(2,46)=10.191; p<.001; Eta2=.307). Post-hoc tests revealed slightly worse results in the TMT (part A) after non-heading than after the heading training which means, that the focused attention was affected. In the TMT (part B) no difference was found between the results after non-heading and heading training. Conclusions This study has a unique potential to highlight the relations between biomarkers and psychological abilities and their possible changes caused by heading, which may have beneficial as well as damaging impact on the body and cognitive functioning. Key messages • The findings of this study suggest a potential relationship between repeated minor head trauma and cognitive performance in young adults. • Besides physiological changes, cognitive impact on cognitive performance may be a consequence of repeated minor head trauma; further study is required to elucidate these associations.


Background:
Many sports are associated with an increased risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI), often in a form of repeated minor trauma. While the pathophysiological changes of the brain after TBI have been relatively well studied, data on cognitive aspects are relatively scarce. The main objective of this study was to measure the cognitive consequences of repeated heading in a controlled set of training exercises in 21 years old football players.

Methods:
The study design is quasi-experiment. Participants consisted of male football players (N = 27) and were tested under 3 conditions: before the sports activity, after the sports activity not involving heading, after the sport activity focused on heading. To monitor the cognitive changes we used neuropsychological methods: the Trail Making Test (TMT), the Verbal reproduction test. Blood samples were taken to analyse the presence of biomarkers (glucose). Linear regression and repeated-measures ANOVA were used for statistical analysis.

Results:
The data showed significant relationships between the glucose level (before and 1-hour after the heading) and the TMT (part B) score /(F(1,22) = 6.03; p = .001; R-square = .223/. Based on TMT (part B) scores, the cognitive flexibility and glucose lowered after the sessions. For both parts of TMT we found significantly worse scores after both training sessions compared to baseline testing (Part A: F(2,46) = 189.354; p<.001; Eta2 = .892; Part B: F(2,46) = 10.191; p<.001; Eta2 = .307). Post-hoc tests revealed slightly worse results in the TMT (part A) after non-heading than after the heading training which means, that the focused attention was affected. In the TMT (part B) no difference was found between the results after non-heading and heading training.

Conclusions:
This study has a unique potential to highlight the relations between biomarkers and psychological abilities and their possible changes caused by heading, which may have beneficial as well as damaging impact on the body and cognitive functioning.

Key messages:
The findings of this study suggest a potential relationship between repeated minor head trauma and cognitive performance in young adults. Besides physiological changes, cognitive impact on cognitive performance may be a consequence of repeated minor head trauma; further study is required to elucidate these associations.

Background:
Preterm birth is defined as a syndrome that can be initiated via various mechanisms. During the past few decades, it has been an emerging health issue worldwide and thus, several actions to benefit public health have been undertaken to reduce its rate. Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is one of the methods that are performed prognostically for prenatal diagnosis. However, several complications can occur after this invasive method is performed. The aim of this review is to identify whether CVS may result in preterm birth as a complication, compared to other invasive or non-invasive methods.

Methods:
A systematic literature review was conducted in PubMed and Scopus from inception until December 2021, to identify studies examining the above association. The research strategy included a combination of search and MESH terms related to CVS and preterm birth, Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set. The research was conducted by two researchers that thoroughly screened the articles and extracted the data. Results: 37 studies met the inclusion criteria. Comparisons were performed between CVS and amniocentesis or control group or between the different weeks that CVS was performed. No significant difference was observed in most of the studies when CVS was compared to amniocentesis, control groups, or between different weeks of gestation that was performed.

Conclusions:
The risk of preterm birth of women undergoing CVS was relatively lower or had no difference compared to the other methods or controls investigated. Therefore, CVS is considered as a safe prenatal diagnostic procedure with minimum rates of preterm birth as a complication. Key messages: The risk of preterm birth of women undergoing CVS was found to be relatively lower with no significant differences compared to the other methods or controls. Future studies should be performed recruiting a large sample with women of different age and compare it with a control group that will not undergo any invasive method.