Examining later-in-life health risks associated with sport-related concussion and repetitive head impacts: a systematic review of case-control and cohort studies

ObjectiveConcern exists about possible problems with later-in-life brain health, such as cognitive impairment, mental health problems and neurological diseases, in former athletes. We examined the future risk for adverse health effects associated with sport-related concussion, or exposure to repetitive head impacts, in former athletes. DesignSystematic review. Data sourcesSearch of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL Plus and SPORTDiscus in October 2019 and updated in March 2022. Eligibility criteriaStudies measuring future risk (cohort studies) or approximating that risk (case-control studies). ResultsTen studies of former amateur athletes and 18 studies of former professional athletes were included. No postmortem neuropathology studies or neuroimaging studies met criteria for inclusion. Depression was examined in five studies in former amateur athletes, none identifying an increased risk. Nine studies examined suicidality or suicide as a manner of death, and none found an association with increased risk. Some studies comparing professional athletes with the general population reported associations between sports participation and dementia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a cause of death. Most did not control for potential confounding factors (eg, genetic, demographic, health-related or environmental), were ecological in design and had high risk of bias. ConclusionEvidence does not support an increased risk of mental health or neurological diseases in former amateur athletes with exposure to repetitive head impacts. Some studies in former professional athletes suggest an increased risk of neurological disorders such as ALS and dementia; these findings need to be confirmed in higher quality studies with better control of confounding factors. PROSPERO registration numberCRD42022159486.

Automated summary

There is concern about the potential adverse effects of sport-related concussion or repetitive head impacts on the later-in-life brain health of former athletes. A systematic review of the available studies suggests that exposure to repetitive head impacts is not associated with an increased risk of mental health problems or neurological diseases in former amateur athletes. However, some studies indicate a possible increased risk of neurological disorders, such as ALS and dementia, in former professional athletes, but these findings need to be confirmed in higher quality studies.