TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute Changes in Plasma Total Tau Levels Are Independent of Subconcussive Head Impacts in College Football Players
AU - Kawata, Keisuke
AU - Rubin, Leah H.
AU - Wesley, Leroy
AU - Lee, Jong Hyun
AU - Sim, Thomas
AU - Takahagi, Masahiro
AU - Bellamy, Al
AU - Tierney, Ryan
AU - Langford, Dianne
PY - 2018/1/15
Y1 - 2018/1/15
N2 - Athletes in contact sports sustain repetitive subconcussive head impacts in a brief window, yet neurophysiological sequelae from repetitive subconcussion remain unclear. This prospective longitudinal study examined a relationship between changes in plasma Tau protein levels and subconcussive impact kinematic data in 23 Division I collegiate football players during a series of pre-season practices. Plasma measures for Tau and S100β proteins, symptom scores, and near point of convergence were obtained at pre-season baseline and pre-/post-practices. During each practice, impact frequency and linear and rotational head accelerations were recorded via an accelerometer-embedded mouth guard. There were significant elevations in plasma Tau levels at all post-practice time-points, compared with those of pre-practice and baseline levels. However, the highest degree of elevation in plasma Tau was observed after the first practice, for which players sustained the lowest number of hits and magnitudes for these hits. Subconcussive impact exposure during practice (e.g., head impact frequency and magnitude) did not predict increased plasma Tau levels. Concussion history and years of football experience also were unrelated to changes in plasma Tau levels. Increases in plasma Tau levels were associated with increases in S100β levels only after the first practice. There were no significant associations between changes in Tau levels, symptom scores, or near point of convergence. These data suggest that the changes in levels of circulating Tau protein were independent of subconcussive head impact exposure, pointing to the possibility that other factors may have played roles in changes in plasma Tau levels.
AB - Athletes in contact sports sustain repetitive subconcussive head impacts in a brief window, yet neurophysiological sequelae from repetitive subconcussion remain unclear. This prospective longitudinal study examined a relationship between changes in plasma Tau protein levels and subconcussive impact kinematic data in 23 Division I collegiate football players during a series of pre-season practices. Plasma measures for Tau and S100β proteins, symptom scores, and near point of convergence were obtained at pre-season baseline and pre-/post-practices. During each practice, impact frequency and linear and rotational head accelerations were recorded via an accelerometer-embedded mouth guard. There were significant elevations in plasma Tau levels at all post-practice time-points, compared with those of pre-practice and baseline levels. However, the highest degree of elevation in plasma Tau was observed after the first practice, for which players sustained the lowest number of hits and magnitudes for these hits. Subconcussive impact exposure during practice (e.g., head impact frequency and magnitude) did not predict increased plasma Tau levels. Concussion history and years of football experience also were unrelated to changes in plasma Tau levels. Increases in plasma Tau levels were associated with increases in S100β levels only after the first practice. There were no significant associations between changes in Tau levels, symptom scores, or near point of convergence. These data suggest that the changes in levels of circulating Tau protein were independent of subconcussive head impact exposure, pointing to the possibility that other factors may have played roles in changes in plasma Tau levels.
KW - Tau
KW - biomarker
KW - head impact kinematics
KW - subconcussion
KW - traumatic brain injury
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041048966&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85041048966&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/neu.2017.5376
DO - 10.1089/neu.2017.5376
M3 - Article
C2 - 29073820
AN - SCOPUS:85041048966
SN - 0897-7151
VL - 35
SP - 260
EP - 266
JO - Journal of neurotrauma
JF - Journal of neurotrauma
IS - 2
ER -