American football players often see the white matter in their brain diminish over the years.
- A new study reveals that American football players who have long careers often see their brains’ white matter diminish over the years.
- To carry out this investigation, researchers analyzed the brain tissue of 205 former American football players who had donated their bodies to a “Brain Bank” before their death.
- This cohort consisted only of men who had played at various levels.
The day after the Super Bowl, a new study reveals that American football players who have a long career often see the white matter of their brain diminish over the years.
This in-depth study was prompted by growing concern about the long-term effects of repeated head impacts experienced by American football players.
Brains of American football players: what is white matter used for?
To carry out this investigation, researchers analyzed the brain tissue of 205 former American football players who had donated their bodies to a charity before their death. “Brainbank”. This cohort consisted only of men who had played at various levels.
The scientists focused in particular on proteolipid 1 proteins and white matter. Vital for cognitive functions and the regulation of behavior, white matter is made up of nerve fibers that connect the different parts of the brain and facilitate communication between them. Present in the tissue of the frontal cortex, proteolipid 1 proteins are essential to the structure and function of myelin (this protective sheath which surrounds nerve fibers and accelerates electrical signals between brain cells, Editor’s note). When they are few in number, they indicate that the integrity of the white matter is compromised.
The researchers also collected information on the players’ sporting and medical histories and interviewed their family members to retrieve data on their cognitive and behavioral states at the end of their lives.
The more American football players play, the less white matter their brains contain
After cross-referencing the data, the researchers found that the length of players’ careers generally had a significant impact on their brain health, since a greater number of years spent playing American football was associated with a lower presence. of proteolipid proteins 1. “Starting American football early was also associated with a decrease in myelin proteins,” add the researchers.
“These results suggest that existing tests that measure white matter damage over the lifespan, including imaging exams and blood tests, may help clarify the potential causes of changes in behavior and cognition in former contact sports athletes”, concludes by Michael L. Alosco, associate professor of neurology and co-author of the study.