Inflammation, Limbic White Matter Microstructure, and Clinical Symptoms in Retired American Football Players With Repetitive Head Impacts
In former elite football players, elevated plasma and CSF inflammatory markers were associated with poorer limbic WM microstructure, which in turn related to worse cognition. Given the limbic system's role in cognition and behavior, inflammation may be a modifiable target for RHI-related neurodegeneration. Limitations include the cross-sectional design and limited generalizability to other contact sports, lower levels of play, female athletes, or other RHI sources.
Authors
- Allison A. Holgerson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3548-0203)
- Jared J. Tanner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6821-0029)
- Monica T. Ly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4842-9047)
- W Barr
- Inga Katharina Koerte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1281-9286)
- Emily F. Matusz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8255-0641)
- Jennifer V. Wethe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2911-1129)
- Fatima Tuz‐Zahra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1763-255X)
- Olivia M. Emanuel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7667-2298)
- Shannon Lee
- M M McClean
- Sylvain Bouix
- Breton M. Asken
- Robert C. Cantu
- Charles H. Adler
- Sarah J. Banks
- Michael L. Alosco
- Jeffrey L. Cummings
- Jesse Mez
- Charles Bernick
- Laura J. Balcer
- Joseph Palmisano
- Elaine R. Peskind
- Michael Marsiske
- Yorghos Tripodis
- Alexander P. Lin
- David W. Dodick
- Michael J. Coleman
- Robert A. Stern
- Brett Martin
- Kaj Blennow
- Martha E. Shenton
- Eric M. Reiman
- Nicholas J. Ashton
- Annalise E. Miner
- Henrik Zetterberg
Institutions
- Boston University (US)
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- Translational Genomics Research Institute (US)
- Cleveland Clinic (US)
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (US)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Phoenix (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Lou Ruvo Brain Institute (US)
- University of Florida Health (US)
- UC San Diego Health System (US)
- Sahlgrenska University Hospital (SE)
- Banner Health (US)
- University of Florida (US)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- German Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology (DE)
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders (US)
- German Center for Infection Research (DE)
- Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Centers (US)
- Framingham Heart Study (US)
- Mayo Clinic in Arizona (US)
- UK Dementia Research Institute (GB)
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DE)
- VA Northwest Network (US)
- Cognitive Neuroimaging Lab (FR)
- Banner Alzheimer’s Institute
- University College London (GB)
- New York University (US)
- Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
- University of Gothenburg (SE)
- École de Technologie Supérieure (CA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Neurology
- Published
- 2026-02-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000214646
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 31.52