Cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption in active young boxers

Motivation: To evaluate the whole-brain pattern of oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption (CMRO2), in boxers with sport-related concussion (SRC). Goal(s): To reveal the effects of SRC on the brain oxygen metabolism of boxers and its relationship with cognition. Approach: Collected quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and arterial spin labeling (ASL), and calculated CBF, OEF and CMRO2 according to the quantitative blood oxygen level-dependent models (QQ) and Fick's principle. Results: Both brain voxel-wise analysis and subcortical ROI analysis showed that the values were significantly reduced. Decreased oxygen metabolism was not associated with cognitive scores. Impact: Cerebral blood flow, oxygen extraction fraction and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen consumption were significantly reduced in active young boxers, which not associated with cognitive scores.