University of Pittsburgh Brain Health Initiative
Prevalence of Brain Health Versus Neurodegeneration in Former Professional Football Players
David Okonkwo, MD, PhD
300 participants
Nov 18, 2019
OBSERVATIONAL
Conditions
Summary
This project will define the prevalence of brain health (i.e., normal cognitive, neuromotor, behavioral function) in living professional football retirees and group-matched controls through a comprehensive assessment of clinical, neuroimaging, and biomarker measures.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria8
- Former professional football player/exposed group:
- Professional football retiree aged 29-59
- Played a minimum of 3 professional football seasons, with a minimum of 3 games in each season
- Fluent in English (translations are not available/validated for most neuropsychological tests)
- Control/unexposed group:
- Age 29-59 male
- High school education or beyond
- Fluent in English (translations are not available/validated for most neuropsychological tests)
Exclusion Criteria7
- Control/unexposed group:
- Played organized football beyond high school
- History of severe TBI
- Current unstable cardiovascular disorder
- For both groups:
- Prior history of psychosis (such as schizophrenia), or other major neurological disorder that would interfere with testing, in the opinion of the primary investigator.
- Contraindication to MR imaging, such as ferrous metal, pacemakers, or concerns about claustrophobia
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Interventions
Comprehensive testing of cognitive function and brain health.
A series of tests and questionnaires that asses vestibular function, balance, ocular-motor coordination, and reflexes.
A full assessment of sleep health, including insomnia (duration, frequency, daytime consequences) and other sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea. Overnight sleep study is included.
A high-resolution MRI to provide qualitative and quantitative assessments of brain structure.
Participants will undergo an executive history and physical exam of all body systems.
These assessments will involve a series of tests and questionnaires that focus on physical function.
A blood draw will be performed to measure standard clinical labs as part of a full history and physical, as well as additional analysis of biomarkers indicative of brain health. An optional lumbar puncture will be performed and CSF samples (20-30 mL) stored in the NCTC Biorepository until shipment to the CLIA-certified laboratory. Both CSF and blood samples will be analyzed for t-tau, p-tau, and Aβ42 and stored for future testing,
Hearth health is evaluated through testing of arterial stiffness and pulse wave reflections using a high fidelity applanation tonometer.
PET imaging of the brain using tau and amyloid ligands.
PET imaging of the brain using an amyloid ligand.
PET imaging of the brain using a tau ligand.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT04708613