Presentation Details
| Position-Specific Olfactory Signature Among Former Professional American-styleFootball Players Benoit Jobin1, 2, Colin Magdamo1, 2, Rachel Grashow3, 4, Michael Leung3, 4, Ona Wu1, 2, 5, Jacob Dodelson1, 2, 5, Grant Iverson1, 2, 6, Marc Weisskopf3, 4, Ross Zafonte1, 2, 6, Aaron Baggish1, Mark Albers1, 2. 1Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.2Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.3Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H.Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.4The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.5Athinoula A Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.6Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA |
Abstract
Olfactory deficits are well documented after traumatic brain injury, yet the integrity of the central olfactory system has not been characterized in former professional athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts. This study examined which aspects of American-style football (ASF) exposure relate to olfactory function and central olfactory system morphometry. We analyzed data from 91 former professional ASF players participating in the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University. All individuals completed a comprehensive olfactory assessment including odor discrimination (OD10), identification (OPID18), and recognition memory, and underwent structural MRI. T1-weighted MRI scans were processed with FreeSurfer to quantify volumes and cortical thickness within olfactory regions. ASF exposure variables included retrospectively reported concussion signs and symptoms, primary playing position, and years of professional and non-professional play. Participants (mean age = 49.43 ± 7.86 years; 54% Black) who played lineman positions exhibited significantly lower OD10 scores than non-linemen (p = .049) and odor identification scores (p = .02), after adjusting for age and race. Lineman status moderated the relationship between thalamic volume and odor discrimination: larger thalamic volume was associated with better discrimination among non-linemen (p = .005), but not in linemen (p = .80). Mediation analyses showed that thalamic volume did not account for the link between lineman status and OD10 score. The lineman position was negatively associated with odor discrimination, identification, and altered thalamic–function relationships. Position related exposures may differentially affect central olfactory pathways, although other mechanisms likely contribute to the observed deficits.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.