Elite American football players who experienced childhood trauma are more likely to develop dementia later in life, implying that there may be a link between childhood trauma, concussions, and long-term mental health problems, according to a new study published today.
The researchers looked at dementia symptoms, adverse childhood events (ACEs) like neglect and abuse, and concussion history among 1755 former NFL players.
The AD8: The Washington University Dementia Screening Test was used to assess dementia symptoms; the short form of the Quality of Life in Neurological Disorders was used to assess cognition-related quality of life; the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 was used to assess depression; the Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7 was used to assess anxiety; and the Brief Pain Inventory was used to assess pain intensity and pain interference in daily life. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate risk ratios (RRs) examining the link between ACEs and neuropsychiatric outcomes, which were adjusted for age, race, and childhood socioeconomic status, as well as playing position, concussions, and number of NFL seasons played.
In this study, 10 ACEs, mostly markers of familial dysfunction, were linked to a positive dementia screening result. When compared to players without ACEs, players with at least four ACEs were 48 percent more likely to have a positive finding on a dementia screen and were at a higher risk of poor cognition-related quality of life, pain, and depression.
They say players with four or more ACEs were at 48 per cent greater risk of dementia, and were at 60 per cent greater risk of being in the top quartile of concussion symptoms.
The researchers suggest childhood trauma may lead to a more aggressive, risk-taking playing style which then leads to additional head trauma, or players with childhood trauma may experience concussion symptoms differently, especially depression and anxiety symptoms.
Source: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.3299
Image Credit: Getty
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