Grant: Operating Grant

Although women comprise 50% of the athletic population and they are 3 times more likely than men to suffer a sport-related mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) (also known as concussion), the current diagnostic tools and return to play safety guidelines are entirely based on scientific evidence from a male athlete population. This not only places women in danger of experiencing more and graver traumatic injuries but also of suffering from long-term consequences of these injuries. The only two studies that investigated gender-based differences indicate that women have greater cognitive deficits than men; however, these investigations did not extend beyond 3 days post-injury. A recent study from our group with female university athletes found persisting cognitive deficits 6 to 8 months after the injury. Cumulating research indicates that if an athlete returns to the game before recovery is completed, they become 5 times more at risk of suffering from subsequent head injuries. Further, a new mTBI on top of a lingering injury will lead to worse deficits, will take longer to recover, and may even lead to death. Finally, the accumulation of mTBIs may increase the presence of cognitive deficits during aging and even lead to Alzheimer's disease. The objectives of the current proposal are to 1) establish gender specific norms for the assessment tools currently used in sport mTBI (symptoms checklist, cognitive tests, balance assessment, and electroencephalography (EEG)), 2) compare symptoms, cognitive deficits, impairments in balance, and anomalies in EEG's caused by a mTBI in male and female athletes, 3) chart the recovery period for the different assessment tools and different brain functions in female versus male athletes as a function of injury history (i.e., number of previous mTBI), and 4) ultimately develop a diagnostic and return to play protocol adapted for women.