TDNet Discover

Background: Millions of sport-related concussions are reported each year. Numerous research studies have been conducted to understand how to diagnose and manage concussions, but less is known about the long-term effects of multiple concussions. Purpose: To determine if multiple sport-related concussions increase the risk for cognitive impairment later in life. Methods: Databases from 4 different search engines (PubMed, CINAHL, NATA Journal of Athletic Training Medicine, and Google Scholar) were employed to discover related studies of the highest level of evidence. Study criteria included articles published in the last 10 years, meta-analyses or systematic reviews, and studies that evaluated the cognitive function of retired athletes who sustained at least one concussion during their careers. Quality assessments were performed to ensure that included studies were of ‘good’ quality. Data extractions were conducted for qualitative analysis. Results: Of the 1,718 studies reviewed, 3 met the inclusion criteria for this study. Pooled results showed that athletes who sustained multiple concussions scored lower in attention, delayed recall, and verbal learning compared to control groups. Elite rugby, ice hockey, and NFL athletes scored worse across all studies than other contact sports athletes. Conclusion: Multiple concussions appear to be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in athletes who participate in contact sports. More research is needed to understand if there is a doseresponse relationship between the number of concussions and the risk of cognitive impairment, as well as to determine if the severity of concussion increases these risks