Study finds link between 2 genetic markers and post-concussion neurocognitive function

A new study presented last week is coming one step closer to finding out whether or not an athlete's genetic makeup determines the severity of post-concussive brain function. Tom Terrell, MD, M.Phil., presented his concussion research entitled "Association between Genetic Polymorphisms and the Difference between Baseline and Post-Concussion Headminder/ImPACT Neuropsychological Test Scores in  Reaction Time and Errors in College Athletes" on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in San Diego, Cal.

This prospective cohort study is the first to link 2 particular genetic markers Tau gene exon 6  Hist47Tyr and APOE Promoter G-219T) to post-concussion neurocognitive function ("reaction time") and outcome in a group of college football and men's/ women's soccer athletes. Dr. Terrell believes this is one precursor to understanding the link between genetic factors and neurocognitive outcome for concussion in contact sport athletes. The prospective cohort study included 3,218 college athletes with the study group including 131 who completed a concussion/medical history questionnaire, genetic sampling, and baseline neuropsychological  testing (Headminder and ImPACT).