David Okonkwo, MD, PhD
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.
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…
Comprehensive testing of cognitive function and brain health.
A series of tests and questionnaires that asses vestibular function, balance, ocular-motor coordination, and reflexes.
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.
A high-resolution MRI to provide qualitative and quantitative assessments of brain structure.
Participants will undergo an executive history and physical exam of all body systems.
These assessments will involve a series of tests and questionnaires that focus on physical function.
A blood draw will be performed to measure standard clinical labs as part of a full history and physical, as well as additional analysis of biomarkers indicative of brain health. An optional lumbar puncture will be performed and CSF samples (20-30 mL) stored in the NCTC Biorepository until shipment to the CLIA-certified laboratory. Both CSF and blood samples will be analyzed for t-tau, p-tau, and Aβ42 and stored for future testing,
Hearth health is evaluated through testing of arterial stiffness and pulse wave reflections using a high fidelity applanation tonometer.
PET imaging of the brain using tau and amyloid ligands.
PET imaging of the brain using an amyloid ligand.
PET imaging of the brain using a tau ligand.
Arctuva estimate
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