LONG TERM NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL OUTCOME AND EFFECT OF COGNITIVE RESERVE IN RETIRED ATHLETES
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Objectives
Cognitive reserve is hypothesised as a protective process against cognitive impairment arising from brain injury. Different life experiences provide a shield against the effects of brain changes to modulate or delay the expression of cognitive impairment. The current study investigated the long-term neuropsychological outcome of retired, predominantly equestrian, athletes.
Methods
Neuropsychological performance of participants with a history of concussion was compared to age-matched controls using Principle Components Analysis (PCA) regression, adjusted for participant characteristics. Premorbid function was used as an index of cognitive reserve.
Results
Three components were identified that explained greater than 95 percent of the variance in 14 neuropsychology tests; the first component (PC1) explained 87 percent of the variance. A regression model on PC1 identified an association between concussion and PC1, with lower scores in concussed participants with lower premorbid function.
Conclusions
A history of concussion is associated with lower neuropsychological performance, and this is more pronounced in individuals with lower premorbid functioning, an indicator of cognitive reserve.
What is already known on this topic
There is a need to clarify long term neuropsychological outcome following sports related concussion.
What this study adds
There is a subset of retired athletes who are better able to withstand the cognitive impact of sports related concussion given higher cognitive reserve.
How this study might affect research, practice or policy
Future research needs to explore modifiable factors to protect brain health in retired athletes, with the use of clinically meaningful measures of cognitive functioning. There is a need for longitudinal assessment and follow-up to clarify the role of cognitive reserve in retired athletes.
