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Abstract #2996

Structural and functional neuroimaging changes in female rugby players with and without a history of concussion

Kathryn Yvonne Manning1, Jeffrey S. Brooks2, Lisa Fischer3, Kevin Blackney4, Alexandra Harriss5, Arthur Brown6, Robert Bartha7, Tim Doherty8, James P. Dickey2, Tatiana Jevremovic3, Christy Barreira4, Douglas Fraser9, Jeff Holmes10, Gregory A. Dekaban11, and Ravi S. Menon12

1Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, 2Kinesiology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 3Primary Care Sport Medicine, Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine, London, ON, Canada, 4Molecular Medicine, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada, 5Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 6Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 7Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 8Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 9Paediatrics Critical Care Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 10Occupational Therapy, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 11Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, ON, Canada, 12Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada

In this study we acquired diffusion and resting state fMRI data from female varsity rugby players, rowers and swimmers during the in- and off-season and found (a) significant alterations in the corpus callosum that correlated with altered default mode network connectivity with the posterior cingulate cortex as well as (b) fluctuations in white matter diffusion measures within the brainstem in contact athletes compared to non-contact athletes. Together this suggests that repetitive subclinical impacts incur both acute and long-term changes to brain microstructure and function despite lack of symptoms or even a history of concussion.

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