4.5 Article

Acute Changes in Plasma Total Tau Levels Are Independent of Subconcussive Head Impacts in College Football Players

Journal

JOURNAL OF NEUROTRAUMA
Volume 35, Issue 2, Pages 260-266

Publisher

MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC
DOI: 10.1089/neu.2017.5376

Keywords

biomarker; head impact kinematics; subconcussion; Tau; traumatic brain injury

Funding

  1. Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers' Society research grant
  2. Marianne Garman Burton Foundation for Caregivers
  3. Temple University Office of the Vice Provost for Research

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Athletes in contact sports sustain repetitive subconcussive head impacts in a brief window, yet neurophysiological sequelae from repetitive subconcussion remain unclear. This prospective longitudinal study examined a relationship between changes in plasma Tau protein levels and subconcussive impact kinematic data in 23 Division I collegiate football players during a series of pre-season practices. Plasma measures for Tau and S100 beta proteins, symptom scores, and near point of convergence were obtained at pre-season baseline and pre-/post-practices. During each practice, impact frequency and linear and rotational head accelerations were recorded via an accelerometer-embedded mouth guard. There were significant elevations in plasma Tau levels at all post-practice time-points, compared with those of pre-practice and baseline levels. However, the highest degree of elevation in plasma Tau was observed after the first practice, for which players sustained the lowest number of hits and magnitudes for these hits. Subconcussive impact exposure during practice (e.g., head impact frequency and magnitude) did not predict increased plasma Tau levels. Concussion history and years of football experience also were unrelated to changes in plasma Tau levels. Increases in plasma Tau levels were associated with increases in S100 beta levels only after the first practice. There were no significant associations between changes in Tau levels, symptom scores, or near point of convergence. These data suggest that the changes in levels of circulating Tau protein were independent of subconcussive head impact exposure, pointing to the possibility that other factors may have played roles in changes in plasma Tau levels.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.5
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available