“ Our analysis found that high levels of heading over the two-year period were associated with changes in brain microstructure similar to findings seen in mild traumatic brain injuries .”
Issue 33.1
Dr . Lipton and colleagues also presented another study today in which they used DTI to investigate the association between repetitive head impacts from soccer heading and verbal learning performance .
For the second study , researchers analyzed heading over 12 months prior to DTI and verbal learning performance testing in 353 amateur soccer players ( age 18-53 , 27 % female ). Unlike previous research that has focused on deep white matter regions , this study employed a new technique , using DTI parameters to evaluate the integrity of the interface between the brain ’ s gray and white matter closer to the skull .
“ Importantly , our new approach addresses a brain region that is susceptible to injury but has been neglected due to limitations of existing methods ,” Dr . Lipton said . “ Application of this technique has potential to disclose the extent of injury from repetitive heading , but also from concussion and traumatic brain injury to an extent not previously possible .”
The researchers found that the normally sharp gray matter-white matter interface was blunted in proportion to high repetitive head impact exposure .
“ We used DTI to assess the sharpness of the transition from gray matter to white matter ,” Dr . Lipton said . “ In various brain disorders , what is typically a sharp distinction between these two brain tissues becomes a more gradual , or fuzzier transition .”
He added that gray matter-white matter interface integrity may play a causal role in the adverse association between repetitive head impacts and cognitive performance .
“ These findings add to the ongoing conversation and contentious debate as to whether soccer heading is benign or confers significant risk ,” he said . g
“ Our analysis found that high levels of heading over the two-year period were associated with changes in brain microstructure similar to findings seen in mild traumatic brain injuries .”
Diffusion MRI , also referred to as diffusion tensor imaging or DTI , of the human brain
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