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Recent and Long-Term Soccer Heading Exposure Is Differentially Associated With Neuropsychological Function in Amateur Players

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 August 2017

Cara F. Levitch Open the ORCID record for Cara F. Levitch [Opens in a new window] ,
Molly E. Zimmerman ,
Naomi Lubin ,
Namhee Kim ,
Richard B. Lipton ,
Walter F. Stewart ,
Mimi Kim  and
Michael L. Lipton
Cara F. Levitch
Affiliation:
Fordham University, Department of Psychology, Bronx, New York
Molly E. Zimmerman
Affiliation:
Fordham University, Department of Psychology, Bronx, New York Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Bronx, New York
Naomi Lubin
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Bronx, New York Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Bronx, New York
Namhee Kim
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Bronx, New York Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Bronx, New York
Richard B. Lipton
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Bronx, New York Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Bronx, New York
Walter F. Stewart
Affiliation:
Sutter Health Research, Walnut Creek, California
Mimi Kim
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Bronx, New York
Michael L. Lipton*
Affiliation:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Bronx, New York Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Gruss Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Bronx, New York Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Bronx, New York The Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Michael L. Lipton, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, MRRC, Room 219C, Bronx, NY 10461. E-mail: Michael.lipton@einstein.yu.edu
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Abstract

Objectives: The present study examined the relative contribution of recent or long-term heading to neuropsychological function in amateur adult soccer players. Participants and Methods: Soccer players completed a baseline questionnaire (HeadCount-12m) to ascertain heading during the prior 12 months (long-term heading, LTH) and an online questionnaire (HeadCount-2w) every 3 months to ascertain heading during the prior 2 weeks (recent heading, RH). Cogstate, a battery of six neuropsychological tests, was administered to assess neuropsychological function. Generalized estimating equations were used to test if LTH or RH was associated with neuropsychological function while accounting for the role of recognized concussion. Results: A total of 311 soccer players completed 630 HeadCount-2w. Participants had an average age of 26 years. Participants headed the ball a median of 611 times/year (mean=1,384.03) and 9.50 times/2 weeks (mean=34.17). High levels of RH were significantly associated with reduced performance on a task of psychomotor speed (p=.02), while high levels of LTH were significantly associated with poorer performance on tasks of verbal learning (p=.03) and verbal memory (p=.04). Significantly better attention (p=.02) was detectable at moderately high levels of RH, but not at the highest level of RH. One hundred and seven (34.4%) participants reported a lifetime history of concussion, but this was not related to neuropsychological function and did not modify the association of RH or LTH with neuropsychological function. Conclusion: High levels of both RH and LTH were associated with poorer neuropsychological function, but on different domains. The clinical manifestations following repetitive exposure to heading could change with chronicity of exposure. (JINS, 2018, 24, 147–155)

Keywords

Brain injurySportCognitive impairmentSoccerHeadingRepetitive head trauma
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 24 , Issue 2 , February 2018 , pp. 147 - 155
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2017 

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