Boxers and MMA fighters could see their cognitive abilities and brain structure recover after retirement
Brain damage sustained by athletes who participate in combat sports that subject them to repeated head trauma can be reversed after they walk away from combat, according to a new study.
Cleveland Clinic researchers found that retired fighters tested their verbal memory, executive functioning and motor speed better two years after their career ended. Their brains also thickened, especially in areas that control emotions, memory, and executive functions.
The results have a huge impact not only on athletes, but also on anyone who has suffered injuries from repetitive head trauma. It shows that conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can be slowed down and potentially even reversed before they turn into bigger problems.
It is estimated that six percent of Americans suffer from some form of CTE. Many are completely unaware of it as it is usually only associated with professional athletes, although repeated trauma from a person’s teenage years may be enough for their development.
The researchers found that retired fighters (blue) often had better processing speeds, memories, and reaction times at the end of the three-year study period, while active fighters (red) achieved often the same or even worse result over time.
Many athletes who participate in combat sports such as football, boxing, MMA, rugby and hockey are at risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), although it is estimated that around 6% of the total population suffers of this disease.
“Repeated blows to the head increase the risk of long-term neurological diseases like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), cognitive and behavioral problems and Parkinsonism,” said Cleveland cognitive disease expert Dr Aaron Ritter. Clinic, in a statement.
“However, we don’t know what happens to people who fought and then stopped fighting. The good news is that we saw improved thinking and memory scores in these retired fighters.
The researchers, who published their findings Wednesday in Neurology, collected data from 90 boxers, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters and martial artists.
Half the sample had not competed for two years, serving as retirees in the study. The other half were active fighters.
Each fighter was paired with a fighter from the other group who was of a similar age, race, background, and career fights during their career.
Over the course of three years, the 90 participants regularly took cognitive tests to determine how well their brains were working and how quickly they were improving or deteriorating.
The retired fighters showed improvements in their cognitive scores over the period, implying that their brains were somehow recovering from previous injuries.
They also had better memory, reaction time, and mental processing speed at the end of the study compared to the beginning.
Meanwhile, no positive changes were found among active fighters, while many even declined in some of these facets over the three-year period.
The researchers also collected levels of neurofilament light chain, a blood biomarker known to be able to predict future cognitive decline.
Retired fighters had decreased levels at the end of the study, implying that their future risk of further cognitive decline was actually decreasing.
This was not the case for active fighters, whose biomarker levels remained constant throughout the period.
The research team also measured the mass and thickness of 68 different brain regions. For 54 of these regions, retired fighters showed slight increases in mass while the reverse was true for those still entering the ring.
“The results of this study suggest a recovery of cognitive functioning in fighters who are no longer exposed to repetitive blows to the head,” Ritter added.
“Future research is needed to determine if there is a point in a fighter’s career when recovery is less likely to occur or to identify factors that might indicate a greater risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease.”
While a study of just 90 isn’t large enough to draw large-scale conclusions, the results do express hope for the millions of people suffering from CTE.
The condition has risen to prominence in recent years, primarily due to its association with former NFL players.
A study published in 2017 found that 99% of former NFL players who thought they had cognitive symptoms before their death had CTE.
People who practice other combat sports such as hockey, rugby or combat sports could also be at significant risk.
Although it is most commonly associated with professional athletes, anyone who has experienced repeated head trauma at some point in their life – such as someone who played recreational sports in their youth – is at risk.
A 2019 study found that six percent of Americans likely have CTE.
The condition can cause severe memory loss, mood swings, confusion, and other cognitive issues.
In the most severe cases, a person suffering from CTE will see their condition progress to Parkinson’s disease.
Origin: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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