Repetitive head-injury exposure and later-in-life cognitive and emotional outcomes among former collegiate football players: a CLEAATS investigation

This study measured the relationship between head-injury exposure and later-in-life cognitive and emotional symptoms in aging collegiate football players who participated in the College Level Aging Athlete Study. Linear regressions examined the relationship between various head-injury exposure variables (head-injury exposure estimate [HIEE], number of diagnosed concussions, and symptomatic hits to the head) and subjective cognitive function, objective cognitive function, and emotional/mood symptoms. Additional regressions evaluated the impact of emotional symptoms on subjective cognitive decline and objective cognitive function. Participants (n = 216) were 50–87 years old (M = 63.4 [8.5]), 91% White, and well-educated (bachelor’s/graduate degree = 92%). HIEE did not predict scores on cognitive or emotional/mood symptom measures (p’s >.169). Diagnosed concussions had a small effect on depression symptoms (p =.002, b = 0.501, R2 =.052) and subjective cognitive symptoms (p =.002, b = 0.383, R2 =.051). An emotional symptom index had a stronger relationship (p <.001, b = 0.693, R2 =.362) with subjective cognitive functioning but no significant relationship with objective cognitive function (p =.052, b = −0.211, R2 =.020). Controlling for emotional symptoms, the relationship between concussions and subjective cognitive symptoms was attenuated (p =.078, R2 =.011). Findings suggested that head-injury exposure was not significantly related to cognitive or emotional/mood outcomes in former collegiate football players and highlighted the importance of current emotional/mood symptoms on subjective cognitive function.