Key result
Estimated age of first exposure to contact sports before age 12 was not associated with worse neurocognitive performance or greater symptom severity compared to exposure at age 12 or older.
Why the study?
To examine the association between estimated age of first exposure to contact sport participation and neurocognitive performance and symptom ratings in U.S. service academy NCAA athletes.
Does earlier estimated age of first exposure to contact sports worsen neurocognitive performance or symptoms in male U.S. service academy athletes?
Cross-Sectional (n=891)
Yes
Does earlier estimated age of first exposure to contact sports worsen neurocognitive performance or symptoms in male U.S. service academy athletes?
p-value: p=>0.05
Earlier exposure to contact sports is not associated with worse baseline neurocognitive performance or greater symptoms in male U.S. service academy athletes.
Does not support age-based contact sport restrictions in youth; leaves open need for prospective longitudinal confirmation.
This study examined the association between estimated age of first exposure (eAFE) to contact sport participation and neurocognitive performance and symptom ratings in U.S. service academy National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletes. Male cadets ( N = 891), who participate in lacrosse ( n = 211), wrestling ( n = 170), ice hockey ( n = 81), soccer ( n = 119), rugby ( n = 10), or non-contact sports ( n = 298), completed the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test before the season. Generalized linear modeling was used to predict each neurocognitive domain score and total symptom severity score. Predictor variables were entered in the following order: group (contact vs. non-contact); eAFE (eAFE <12 years vs. eAFE ≥12 years); group-by-eAFE; and covariates for learning accommodation status, concussion history, and age. The group-by-eAFE interaction was not significant for any of the ImPACT composite scores (Verbal Memory, Wald χ 2 = 0.073, p = 0.788; Visual Memory, Wald χ 2 = 2.71, p = 0.100; Visual Motor Speed, Wald χ 2 = 0.078, p = 0.780; Reaction Time, Wald χ 2 = 0.003, p = 0.955; Symptom Severity, Wald χ 2 = 2.87, p = 0.090). Learning accommodation history was associated with lower scores on Visual Motor Speed (χ 2 = 6.19, p = 0.013, B = −2.97). Older age was associated with faster reaction time (χ 2 = 4.40, p = 0.036, B = −0.006) and lesser symptom severity (χ 2 = 5.55, p = 0.019, B = −0.068). No other parameters were significant. We observed no association between eAFE, contact sport participation, neurocognitive functioning, or subjectively experienced symptoms in this cohort. Earlier eAFE to contact sport participation is not related to worse neurocognitive performance or greater subjectively experienced symptoms in male U.S. service academy NCAA athletes.
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Caccese et al. (2019) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy athletes (n=891). Estimated age of first exposure to contact sports <12 years vs. Estimated age of first exposure ≥12 years or non-contact sports was evaluated on Neurocognitive performance (ImPACT composite scores) and symptom severity (p=>0.05). Estimated age of first exposure to contact sports before age 12 was not associated with worse neurocognitive performance or greater symptom severity compared to exposure at age 12 or older.
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