Abstract #1464

Early aging, iron accumulation and demyelination in cervical spinal cord and brain as long-term effects of rugby practice?

Arash Forodighasemabadi^1,2,3,4, Guillaume Baucher^1,2,5, Lucas Soustelle^1,2, Thomas Troalen⁶, Olivier Girard^1,2, Guillaume Duhamel^1,2, Jean-Philippe Ranjeva^1,2, Maxime Guye^1,2, Jean-Baptiste Grisoli⁷, and Virginie Callot^1,2,4

¹Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France, ²APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France, ³Aix-Marseille Univ, Université Gustave Eiffel, LBA, Marseille, France, ⁴iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille-Montreal, Marseille, France, ⁵APHM, Hopital Universitaire Nord, Neurosurgery Dept, Marseille, France, ⁶Siemens Healthcare SAS, Saint-Denis, France, ⁷APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, Pole MPR, Marseille, France

Synopsis

Brain alterations due to cumulative effects of impacts have been reported in rugby players. However, literature on long-term effects is scarce, and no study has been conducted to characterize potential spinal cord impairments.

In this study using a multiparametric MR protocol dedicated to both brain and cord, and combining state-of-the-art T₁ relaxometry and ihMT imaging, we observed diffuse T₁ increase in the cervical spinal cord, together with increased T₁ and decreased ihMTsat in specific brain WM tracts in retired players.

These preliminary results also suggest early aging, tissue degeneration, iron accumulation, and different aging processes in retired players.

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