In the linked article, Brett and colleagues (including other SNS members Drs. Echemendia and McCrea) performed latent profile analysis to identify distinct groups across a range of functional outcomes in a sample of 686 former NFL players ages 50-70. Measures from the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders and Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System submitted to the analysis represented a range of functional domains, including physical, neurobehavioral, and psychosocial. Five distinct profiles were identified (1) global higher functioning (26.5%), (2) average functioning (10.2%), (3) mild somatic (pain and physical functioning) concerns (22.0%), (4) somatic and cognitive difficulties with mild anxiety (27.5%), (5) global impaired functioning (13.8%). Membership in the global impaired and somatic and cognitive difficulties with mild anxiety groups were associated with greater prevalence of psychiatric and medical conditions, higher levels of psychosocial stress, and greater concussion history. Years of football participation were not significantly associated with group membership. Results from the study ultimately show a complex intersection between various domains of function (physical, neurobehavioral, and psychosocial) with past medical and sport-related history.
(Brett et al., 2021) Brett, B. L., Walton, S. R., Kerr, Z. Y., Nelson, L. D., Chandran, A., Defreese, J. D., . . . McCrea, M. A. (2021). Distinct latent profiles based on neurobehavioural, physical and psychosocial functioning of former National Football League (NFL) players: an NFL-LONG Study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. doi:10.1136/jnnp-2020-324244
link to the article: https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/early/2021/01/22/jnnp-2020-324244.long