• Leah H Rubin, Ryan Tierney, Keisuke Kawata, Leroy Wesley, Jong Hyun Lee, Kaj Blennow, Henrik Zetterberg, and Dianne Langford.
• a Department of Neurology , Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD , USA.
• Brain Inj. 2019 Jan 1; 33 (4): 456-462.

IntroductionRepetitive subconcussive head impacts in contact/collision sports such as in US football are believed to contribute to long-term brain changes and chronic symptoms. However, the lack of tools to measure the effects of repeated subconcussion limits our understanding of potential contributions to neuropathological alterations including cellular damage.MethodsWe examined subconcussive head impacts using an accelerometer-embedded mouthguard on changes in blood levels of neurofilament light (NFL) chain in 18 Division I college football players. Plasma levels of NFL and clinical symptoms were assessed at pre-post practices. The frequency and linear and rotational head accelerations recorded via the mouthguard were examined in relation to NFL plasma changes.ResultsThe frequency and magnitude of head impacts associated with increased NFL levels. The greater numbers of hits and head accelerations associated with greater pre- to post-practice NFL level increases (p < 0.05). Greater pre- to post-practice increases in NFL also associated with greater pre- to post-practice increases in S100β (p < 0.001), but not with total tau. Years of football experience and concussion history did not associate with changes in NFL.ConclusionAcute changes in NFL may be a clinically useful peripheral marker in tracking acute brain damage in collegiate football players, and other contact sports.

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