Genetic polymorphisms like apolipoprotein E (APOE) and microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) genes increase the risk of neurodegeneration.<\/p>\n
38 former players (age 52.63\u00b114.02) of contact sports underwent neuroimaging, biofluid collection, and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. The [F-18]AV-1451 tracer signal was compared in the cortical grey matter between APOE4 allele carriers and non-carriers as well as carriers of MAPT H1H1 vs non-H1H1. Participants were then divided into the high (N\u00a0=\u00a013) and low (N\u00a0=\u00a013) groups based on cortical PET tau standard uptake value ratios (SUVRs) for comparison.<\/p>\n
Cortical grey matter PET tau SUVR values were significantly higher in APOE4 carriers compared to non-carriers (p\u00a0=\u00a00.020). In contrast, there was no significant difference in SUVR between MAPT H1H1 vs non-H1H1 carrier genes (p\u00a0=\u00a01.00). There was a significantly higher APOE4 allele frequency in the high cortical grey matter PET tau group, comparing to low cortical grey matter PET tau group (p\u00a0=\u00a00.048). No significant difference in neuropsychological function was found between APOE4 allele carriers and non-carriers.<\/p>\n
There is an association between higher cortical grey matter tau burden as seen with [F-18]AV-1451 PET tracer SUVR, and the APOE4 allele in former professional and semi-professional players at high risk of concussions. APOE4 allele may be a risk factor for tau accumulation in former contact sports athletes at high risk of neurodegeneration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"studies-relation":[],"class_list":["post-4422","ccna_publication","type-ccna_publication","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n