Journal article
Reduced white matter integrity in amateur boxers.
- Herweh C Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. christian.herweh@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
- Hess K Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Meyding-Lamadé U Department of Neurology, Krankenhaus Nordwest, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Bartsch AJ Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Stippich C Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
- Jost J National Training Center for Boxing, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Friedmann-Bette B Department of Sports Medicine, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Heiland S Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Bendszus M Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Hähnel S Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- 2016-05-28
Published in:
- Neuroradiology. - 2016
Diffusion tensor imaging
Neuropsychology
Olympic boxing
Traumatic brain injury
White matter disturbance
Adult
Boxing
Brain
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Humans
Leukoencephalopathies
Male
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
White Matter
English
INTRODUCTION
Professional boxing can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a variant of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Its occurrence in amateur boxers is a matter of debate since amateur boxing is considered to be less harmful due to more strict regulations. However, several studies using different methodological approaches have revealed subtle signs of TBI even in amateurs. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to microscopic white matter changes and has been proven useful in TBI when routine MR imaging often is unrevealing.
METHODS
DTI, with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) together with neuropsychological examination of executive functions and memory, was used to investigate a collective of 31 male amateur boxers and 31 age-matched controls as well as a subgroup of 19 individuals, respectively, who were additionally matched for intellectual performance (IQ).
RESULTS
All participants had normal findings in neurological examination and conventional MR. Amateur boxers did not show deficits in neuropsychological tests when their IQ was taken into account. Fractional anisotropy was significantly reduced, while diffusivity measures were increased along central white matter tracts in the boxers group. These changes were in part associated with the number of fights.
CONCLUSIONS
TBSS revealed widespread white matter disturbance partially related to the individual fighting history in amateur boxers. These findings closely resemble those in patients with accidental TBI and indicate similar histological changes in amateur boxers.
Professional boxing can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a variant of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Its occurrence in amateur boxers is a matter of debate since amateur boxing is considered to be less harmful due to more strict regulations. However, several studies using different methodological approaches have revealed subtle signs of TBI even in amateurs. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to microscopic white matter changes and has been proven useful in TBI when routine MR imaging often is unrevealing.
METHODS
DTI, with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) together with neuropsychological examination of executive functions and memory, was used to investigate a collective of 31 male amateur boxers and 31 age-matched controls as well as a subgroup of 19 individuals, respectively, who were additionally matched for intellectual performance (IQ).
RESULTS
All participants had normal findings in neurological examination and conventional MR. Amateur boxers did not show deficits in neuropsychological tests when their IQ was taken into account. Fractional anisotropy was significantly reduced, while diffusivity measures were increased along central white matter tracts in the boxers group. These changes were in part associated with the number of fights.
CONCLUSIONS
TBSS revealed widespread white matter disturbance partially related to the individual fighting history in amateur boxers. These findings closely resemble those in patients with accidental TBI and indicate similar histological changes in amateur boxers.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1007/s00234-016-1705-y
- PMID 27230917
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/global/documents/101921
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