Prevalence of Brain Health Versus Neurodegeneration in Former Professional Football Players
David Okonkwo, MD, PhD
Summary
This project will define the prevalence of brain health (i.e., normal cognitive, neuromotor, behavioral function) in living professional football retirees and group-matched controls through a comprehensive assessment of clinical, neuroimaging, and biomarker measures.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 29–59 years
- Sex
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion criteria: Former professional football player/exposed group: 1. Professional football retiree aged 29-59 2. Played a minimum of 3 professional football seasons, with a minimum of 3 games in each season 3. Fluent in English (translations are not available/validated for most neuropsychological tests) Control/unexposed group: 1. Age 29-59 male 2. High school education or beyond 3. Fluent in English (translations are not available/validated for most neuropsychological tests) Exclusion criteria: Control/unexposed group: 1. Played organized football beyond high school 2. History of…
Interventions
- Diagnostic TestCognitive/Neuropsychological Testing
Comprehensive testing of cognitive function and brain health.
- Diagnostic TestVestibular/Ocular-Motor Testing
A series of tests and questionnaires that asses vestibular function, balance, ocular-motor coordination, and reflexes.
- Diagnostic TestSleep Evaluation
A full assessment of sleep health, including insomnia (duration, frequency, daytime consequences) and other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Overnight sleep study is included.
- Diagnostic TestMRI, High-Resolution
A high-resolution MRI to provide qualitative and quantitative assessments of brain structure.
- Diagnostic TestHealth & Physical Exam
Participants will undergo an executive history and physical exam of all body systems.
- Diagnostic Test
Location
- University of Pittsburgh Department of NeurosurgeryPittsburgh, Pennsylvania