Abstract #3002

Neurometabolite changes in College Hockey Players Correlated with Repetitive Head Impacts

Tyler C Starr¹, Katherine Breedlove^2,3, Monica Lininger⁴, Molly Charney¹, Melissa DiFabio³, Eduardo Coello¹, Huijun Liao¹, Curtis Johnson³, Thomas Buckley³, and Alexander Lin¹

¹Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, ²Neurotrauma Research Laboratory, Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, ³Department of Kinesiology & Applied Physiology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States, ⁴Department of Physical Therapy & Athletic Training, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States

Repetitive head impacts can lead to long-term cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. To further understand the effects of repetitive subconcussive head impacts, this study aimed to measure neurochemical concentrations throughout a season of collegiate hockey and examine the relation between subconcussive impacts and neurochemical changes using telemetry and MRS data. As seen in previous studies, players experienced an increase in N-acetyl aspartate and choline. Interestingly, post season NAA was negatively correlated with some telemetry metrics.

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