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Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine
Mar 18, 2025;

Long-Term Brain Health Outcomes in Females With a History of Contact Sports: A Cross-Sectional Survey Analysis.

Grant H Rigney, John E Dugan, Anthony E Bishay, Jacob Jo, Soren Jonzzon, Kristen L Williams, Scott L Zuckerman, Douglas P Terry
Author Information
  1. Grant H Rigney: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
  2. John E Dugan: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee. ORCID
  3. Anthony E Bishay: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
  4. Jacob Jo: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
  5. Soren Jonzzon: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
  6. Kristen L Williams: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
  7. Scott L Zuckerman: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
  8. Douglas P Terry: Vanderbilt Sport Concussion Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
PMID: 40126630 DOI: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001338

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether female sex is associated with higher lifetime concussion risk and if years of contact sport participation and/or concussion history are associated with negative long-term cognitive and psychiatric difficulties in females compared with males.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey.
SETTING: ResearchMatch, a national health-based volunteer registry.
PARTICIPANTS: A total of 330 participants (111 females) with contact sport exposure.
INTERVENTIONS: Participants reported lifetime concussion history, age of first exposure, and duration of contact sport exposure.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lifetime concussion history, depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), and cognitive symptoms (BC-CCI).
RESULTS: Of 330 participants (N = 111 females), 57.1% of females reported at least one concussion. Females had fewer years of contact sport exposure than males (6.0 �� 4.5 vs 8.5 �� 8.9 years; P < 0.001). Age of first exposure was similar between sexes (females: 11.7 �� 8.9 years; males: 11.5 �� 5.3 years; P = 0.779). Female sex was not associated with a positive lifetime concussion history (OR = 1.13; 95% CI, 0.66-1.93; P = 0.662). Total years of contact sport exposure did not predict lifetime concussion history in females (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.94-1.11; P = 0.667) but did in males (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10; P = 0.020). Increased lifetime concussions predicted increased late-life depressive, anxiety, and cognitive symptoms in both sexes.
CONCLUSIONS: Female sex was not associated with a higher likelihood of having a lifetime concussion history. Total years of contact sport exposure did not predict lifetime concussion risk in females but did in males. Increased lifetime concussions were associated with higher late-life depressive, anxiety, and cognitive symptoms in both sexes.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-specific differences in assessing long-term cognitive and psychiatric risks in former athletes.

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Journal Article

Word Cloud

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