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Linked MRI signatures of the brain's acute and persistent response to concussion in female varsity rugby players
Neuroimage-Clinical
  • Kathryn Y Manning, Western University
  • Alberto Llera, Radboud University Nijmegen
  • Gregory A Dekaban, Western University
  • Robert Bartha, Western University
  • Christy Barreira, Western University
  • Arthur Brown, Western University
  • Lisa Fischer, Fowler Kennedy
  • Tatiana Jevremovic, Western University
  • Kevin A Blackney, The University of Western Ontario
  • Tim Doherty, Western University
  • Douglas D Fraser, London Health Sciences Centre
  • Jeff Holmes, Western University
  • Christian F Beckmann, Radboud University Nijmegen
  • Ravi S Menon, Western University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2018.101627
Abstract

Acute brain changes are expected after concussion, yet there is growing evidence of persistent abnormalities well beyond clinical recovery and clearance to return to play. Multiparametric MRI is a powerful approach to non-invasively study structure-function relationships in the brain, however it remains challenging to interpret the complex and heterogeneous cascade of brain changes that manifest after concussion. Emerging conjunctive, data-driven analysis approaches like linked independent component analysis can integrate structural and functional imaging data to produce linked components that describe the shared inter-subject variance across images. These linked components not only offer the potential of a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying neurobiology of concussion, but can also provide reliable information at the level of an individual athlete. In this study, we analyzed resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) within a cohort of female varsity rugby players (n = 52) through the in-and off-season, including concussed athletes (n = 21) who were studied longitudinally at three days, three months and six months after a diagnosed concussion. Linked components representing co-varying white matter microstructure and functional network connectivity characterized (a) the brain's acute response to concussion and (b) persistent alterations beyond clinical recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate that these long-term brain changes related to specific aspects of a concussion history and allowed us to monitor individual athletes before and longitudinally after a diagnosed concussion.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0
Citation Information
Kathryn Y Manning, Alberto Llera, Gregory A Dekaban, Robert Bartha, et al.. "Linked MRI signatures of the brain's acute and persistent response to concussion in female varsity rugby players" Neuroimage-Clinical Vol. 21 (2019) p. 1 - 9
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/arthur-brown/36/