Study Finds Repeated Head Impacts Trigger Early Brain Damage In Young Athletes

Repeated head impacts from contact sports can trigger early brain damage in young athletes, according to new research supported by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The findings indicate that neuronal loss, inflammation, and changes in blood vessels may occur long before chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) becomes detectable.

Scientists from Boston University’s CTE Centre, the US Department of Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, and collaborating institutions analysed postmortem brain tissue from athletes under 51, most of whom had played American football.

Using advanced cell imaging and gene-tracking tools developed by the NIH’s BRAIN Initiative®, the team identified significant cellular changes beyond the established tau protein buildup associated with CTE.

Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), said, “This study underscores that many changes in the brain can occur after repetitive head impacts. These early brain changes might help diagnose and treat CTE earlier than is currently possible.”

Neuron Loss and Inflammation Linked to Impact Exposure

The researchers reported a striking 56% loss of a specific type of neuron in brain regions prone to repeated hits.

Remarkably, this loss was observed even in athletes without detectable tau protein, and it increased with years of exposure to contact sports.

Brain immune cells, or microglia, also became progressively activated, suggesting early inflammatory responses.

In addition, the researchers found molecular changes in the brain’s blood vessels, including gene patterns indicating immune activity, responses to reduced oxygen, and growth of small vessels.

The study highlighted a newly discovered communication pathway between microglia and blood vessel cells, potentially explaining how early cellular dysfunction sets the stage for later disease progression.

Richard Hodes, director of NIH’s National Institute on Aging (NIA), noted, “The dramatic cellular changes, including significant neuron loss in young athletes with no detectable CTE, highlight the importance of understanding early events to protect athletes today and reduce future dementia risks.”

The study shifts focus from advanced CTE in older individuals to the earliest cellular warning signs, offering hope for early interventions that could prevent devastating neurodegeneration in athletes exposed to repetitive head trauma.

NINDS and NIA funded this research through multiple grants, highlighting the importance of early detection and prevention in brain health.

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