A-20 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Concerns Among Aging Amateur Football and Non-Football players: Preliminary Data from CLEAATS

Abstract

Abstract Purpose We evaluated self-reported concerns about developing 1) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and 2) “permanent memory or thinking problems” due to head-injury exposure among former football and non-football college-level male athletes 50 or older. Methods 188 male participants (Mean age=64.4 years, 90% White) completed a comprehensive online survey for the College Level Aging Athlete Study (CLEAATS). Using chi-squared tests, frequency of self-reported concerns between football players and non-football players for two different survey questions were evaluated: 1) concerns for developing CTE, and 2) concerns for developing “permanent memory or thinking problems” related to a history of concussions and/or head impacts. Level of concern was measured on a 5-point scale ranging from 1=Not at all to 5=extremely. Results Former football players (n=102) endorsed greater concerns about CTE (X2 [1, N=188]=45.86, p<.001) than non-football players (n=86), with 20.5% (21/102) indicating they were “moderately” or “extremely” concerned, compared to 6.9% (6/86) of non-football players Similarly, former football players (n=102) endorsed greater concerns of developing permanent memory/thinking problems, with 32% (31/102) reporting moderate to extreme concerns, compared to 11.6% (10/86) of non-football players (X2 [1, N=188]=30.3, p<.001). Conclusions Preliminary data found that 1/5th of former college football players over age 50 expressed significant concerns of developing CTE. One-third had significant concerns about their long-term cognition. This is despite the unknown prevalence and risk factors for cognitive problems, dementia, or CTE among contact-sports participants. We suggest continued caution when reporting on long-term outcomes in former athletes, given the elevated concerns in the context of currently mixed literature.