“We generated maps that visualized the permeability value for each 3D section (voxel), Prof. Friedman says. “Our permeability maps revealed an increase in slow blood-to-brain transport in a subset of amateur American football players, but not in the control group. The increase in permeability was region specific (white matter, midbrain peduncles, red nucleus, temporal cortex) and correlated with alterations in white matter tracts. Importantly, increased permeability persisted for months, as seen in players who were scanned both on- and off-season.
“Not less important is the observation that few players who did not complain of severe symptoms also showed a leaky BBB. This suggests that DCE-MRI should be used in conjunction with symptom questionnaires before return to play is approved.”
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Football players were three times more likely to display a leaky BBB than controls as BBBD was detected in a subgroup (27.4%) of players. This individual variability may explain the wide range of cognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric impairments observed in players, likely reflecting differences in affected brain networks.
“Our findings show that DCE-MRI can be used to diagnose specific vascular pathology after traumatic brain injury and other brain pathologies,” Prof. Friedman says.
The researchers note that while the present study was performed in otherwise-healthy amateur players, future studies are recommended to determine the prevalence and spatial-temporal characteristics of BBBD in professional players and/or retired players with and without CTE clinical signs and symptoms. Differences, if found, may improve the understanding of the effects of impact strength and frequency, age of onset, player’s skill and extent of vascular injury.
This study is a collaboration among researchers from the BGU Blood-Brain Barrier Lab, UC Berkeley, Boston University, Dalhousie University, and Trinity college in Dublin. The study was supported by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007–2013; grant #602102, A.F.), the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel-USA Binational Science Foundation, the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, Canada Institute for Health Research, and the NIH-NIA Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center.
About American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (AABGU) plays a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion's vision: creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University's expertise locally and around the globe. As Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) celebrates its 50th birthday, AABGU imagines a future that goes beyond the walls of academia. It is a future where BGU invents a new world and inspires a vision for a stronger Israel and its next generation of leaders. Together with supporters, AABGU will help the University foster excellence in teaching, research and outreach to the communities of the Negev for the next 50 years and beyond. AABGU, headquartered in Manhattan, has offices throughout the United States.
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