SNS Response to NINDS Statement on CTE

In late October 2022, the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) updated their website and made the following statement: “Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a delayed neurodegenerative disorder that was initially identified in postmortem brains and, research-to-date suggests, is caused in part by repeated traumatic brain injuries” (italics added).   SNS recognizes…

Influence of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders on Cognitive and Symptom Profiles

This study looked at the differences in ImPACT baseline cognitive composites and symptom scores in athletes with self-reported Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Previous research has shown that other neurodevelopmental groups (ADHD, learning disabilities (LD), and ADHD+LD) demonstrate differences in both cognitive composites (lower memory composites and slower speed composites) and symptoms scores (overall higher symptom…

Longitudinal trajectory of depression symptom severity and the influence of concussion history and physical function over a 19-year period among former NFL players

Summary: The authors studied 333 former NFL players over a 19-year period to determine factors associated with severity and trajectory of depressive symptoms. Their data revealed an association between concussion history and severity of depression, as well as showed that declining physical functioning was associated with increases in depressive symptoms longitudinally. https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2021/10/17/jnnp-2021-326602 Brett B. L., Kerr Z. Y., Walton S.…

Diagnosis, Management, and Long-Term Risk – Virtual Workshop

Registration is now open for our August 26th Virtual Workshop – Sports Concussion: Diagnosis, Management, and Long-Term Risk! 3.5 CE CreditsThursday, August 26, 2021 (US) | Friday, August, 27, 2021 (AUS)5:00 PM – 8:30 PM ET (US) | 7:00 AM – 10:30 AM (AUS) View or download the full information flyer : http://www.sportsneuropsychologysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/CCN_NAN_SNS_EventFlyer2021-1.pdf Please see…

Mild cognitive impairment in retired professional football players with a history of mild traumatic brain injury: A pilot investigation.

This study compared cognitive profiles of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), finding that retired athletes with history of concussion and non-athletes without history of concussion performed similarly on many cognitive domains (verbal memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed), with athletes demonstrating somewhat lower scores on naming and speeded visual attention measures. Results suggest overall…

Affective distress explains discrepancy between objective and subjective cognitive functioning after mild traumatic brain injury.

This study examined factors that relate to level of cognitive symptoms among individuals seen in an interdisciplinary concussion clinic. These results highlight the importance of considering sleep, affective symptoms, time since injury, and age in concussion care and management. Hromas, G. A., Houck, Z. M., Asken, B. M., Svingos, A. M., Greif, S. M., Heaton,…

If you’ve been asked about using EEG as part of concussion diagnosis…

If you’ve been asked about using EEG as part of concussion diagnosis or management, Neuropsychology Review published a review article you should read: The Use of Electroencephalography as an Informative Tool in Assisting Early Clinical Management after Sport-Related Concussion: a Systematic Review The publication is linked below: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32577950/

Testing the hybrid battery approach to evaluating sports-related concussion in the NHL

Separate factor structures for pencil-and-paper assessment vs. computerized assessment of concussion support a hybrid assessment model. Echemendia, R.J., Thelen,J., Meeuwisse, W., Comper,P., Hutchison, M.G.,  & Bruce, J.M.  (2019). Testing the hybrid battery approach to evaluating sports-related concussion in the National Hockey League: A factor analytic study. The Clinical Neuropsychologist. Click for full article – doi.org/10.1080/13854046.2019.1690051