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Abstract #1068

Evidence of Altered Brain Chemistry After Repetitive Subconcussive Head Impacts

Alexander Peter Lin 1,2 , Marc Muehlmann 2,3 , Sai Merugumala 1 , Huijun Vicky Liao 1 , Tyler Starr 1 , David Kaufmann 3 , Michael Mayinger 2,3 , Denise Steffinger 3 , Barbara Fisch 3 , Susanne Karch 3 , Florian Heinen 3 , Birgit Ertl-Wagner 3 , Maximilian Reiser 3 , Robert A. Stern 4 , Ross Zafonte 5 , Martha Shenton 2,6 , and Inga K Koerte 2,3

1 Center for Clinical Spectroscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, 2 Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, 3 Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany, 4 Boston University Alzheimers Disease Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States, 5 Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, 6 VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States

Repeatedly heading the ball may place soccer players at high risk for repetitive subconcussive head impacts (RSHI). This study evaluates the long-term effects of RSHI on neurochemistry in former professional soccer players in comparison to gender-matched former non-contact sport athletes. In the soccer players, a significant increase was observed in both, choline, a membrane marker, and myo-inositol, a marker of glial activation, compared to control athletes. Myo-inositol and glutathione were significantly correlated with lifetime estimate of RSHI. Results suggest an association between RSHI in soccer players and MRS markers of neuroinflammation and the consequences of subconcussive head impacts.

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