Repetitive head impact exposure and later-life plasma total tau in former National Football League players

Michael L Alosco; Yorghos Tripodis; Johnny Jarnagin; Christine M Baugh; Brett Martin; Christine E Chaisson; Nate Estochen; Linan Song; Robert C Cantu; Andreas Jeromin; Robert A Stern

doi:10.1016/j.dadm.2016.11.003

Repetitive head impact exposure and later-life plasma total tau in former National Football League players

Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2016 Dec 10:7:33-40. doi: 10.1016/j.dadm.2016.11.003. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
² Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
⁴ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Interfaculty Initiative in Health Policy, Harvard University Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
⁶ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Data Coordinating Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
⁷ Quanterix Corporation, Lexington, MA, USA.
⁸ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
⁹ Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Blood protein analysis of total tau (t-tau) may be a practical screening biomarker for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative tauopathy associated with repetitive head impact (RHI) exposure. We examined plasma t-tau in symptomatic former National Football League (NFL) players compared with controls and the relationship between RHI exposure and later-life plasma t-tau.

Methods: Ninety-six former NFL players (age 40-69) and 25 same-age controls underwent blood draw to determine plasma t-tau levels. The cumulative head impact index (CHII) quantified RHI exposure. Subjects completed measures of clinical function.

Results: A higher CHII predicted greater plasma t-tau in the former NFL players (P = .0137). No group differences in plasma t-tau emerged, but a concentration ≥3.56 pg/mL was 100% specific to former NFL players. Plasma t-tau did not predict clinical function.

Discussion: Greater RHI exposure predicted higher later-life plasma t-tau concentrations, and further study on plasma t-tau as a candidate screening biomarker for CTE is warranted.

Keywords: American football; Chronic traumatic encephalopathy; Head trauma; Plasma; Repetitive head impacts; Tau; Total tau.

Abstract

Grants and funding