The effect of age of first exposure to competitive fighting on cognitive and other neuropsychiatric symptoms and brain volume

It has long been established that fighting sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts can lead to head injury. Prior work from this group on the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study found that exposure to repetitive head impacts is associated with lower brain volumes and decreased processing s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International review of psychiatry (Abingdon, England) England), 2020-01, Vol.32 (1), p.89-95
Main Authors: Bryant, Barry R., Narapareddy, Bharat R., Bray, Michael J. C., Richey, Lisa N., Krieg, Akshay, Shan, Guogen, Peters, Matthew E., Bernick, Charles B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Athletes
Boxing
Brain structure
Cognitive ability
CTE
depression
fighters
Head injuries
Impulsivity
Magnetic resonance imaging
Martial arts
Neuropsychiatric symptoms
Neuropsychiatry
Processing speed
Sports
Symptoms
TBI
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Summary:It has long been established that fighting sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts can lead to head injury. Prior work from this group on the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study found that exposure to repetitive head impacts is associated with lower brain volumes and decreased processing speed in fighters. Current and previously licensed professional fighters were recruited, divided into active and retired cohorts, and matched with a control group that had no prior experience in sports with likely head trauma. This study examined the relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to fighting sports and brain structure (MRI regional volume), cognitive performance (CNS Vital Signs, iComet C3), and clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms (PHQ-9, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale). Brain MRI data showed significant correlations between earlier AFE and smaller bilateral hippocampal and posterior corpus callosum volumes for both retired and active fighters. Earlier AFE in active fighters was correlated with decreased processing speed and decreased psychomotor speed. Retired fighters showed a correlation between earlier AFE and higher measures of depression and impulsivity. Overall, the results help to inform clinicians, governing bodies, parents, and athletes of the risks associated with beginning to compete in fighting sports at a young age.
ISSN:0954-0261
1369-1627
DOI:10.1080/09540261.2019.1665501