Quantitative T1 & dMRI in acutely concussed division-1 collegiate athletes and sport matched control

Poster No:

326 

Submission Type:

Abstract Submission 

Authors:

Lauren Rooks1, Bradley Caron2, Franco Pestilli2, Nicholas Port1

Institutions:

1Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 2The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

First Author:

Lauren Rooks  
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN

Co-Author(s):

Bradley Caron  
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
Franco Pestilli  
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX
Nicholas Port  
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN

Introduction:

Several recent mutli-center traumatic brain injury (TBI) studies, eg. TRACK-TBI and the NCAA/DOD CARE consortium, have shown changes in diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) which are prognostic for predicting recovery and might be predictive of other long-term sequelae. However, these multi-center studies used simple dMRI acquisitions sequences which were time efficient. More extensive dMRI sequences, although time consuming, allow for higher resolution analyses of white matter microstructure which could produce better predictive models. Quantitative T1 imaging is a relatively new MRI technique of neural tissue which allows for microscopic analysis of tissue composition and could provide new clinical insights to disease pathology.

Methods:

The goal of this research is to identify if there are brain properties which are altered within the first 24-48 hours of concussion and if they recover by 6 months post-injury. The second goal would be to determine if these brain properties can determine length of recovery or return to play time. This research was conducted using a dataset of 37 concussed athletes from Indiana University and 35 sport matched control athletes. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data collected included 3-5 anatomical T1 weighted scans, 1 anatomical T2 weighted scan, and 2 dMRI scans (posterior to anterior, anterior to posterior). Structural statistics included volume, cortical thickness, and surface area of 66 cortical and subcortical regions.

Results:

Our current preliminary results focused on volumetric analyses between our groups. We found the Cohen's D effect size of surface area between concussed and control athletes ranged from d = 0.01 to 0.45 with no effect sizes being statistically significant. The effect sizes of gray matter volume range from d = 0.01 to 0.5 with no effect sizes being statistically significant. Lastly, effect sizes of gray matter thickness range from d = 0.02 to 0.63 with no effect sizes being statistically significant.

Conclusions:

Our planned next analyses include 1) doing tractography, calculating DTI and NODDI metric along the length of the tracts, and predicting recovery from these metrics and 2) calculating quantitative T1 relaxation time maps between our groups and testing the hypothesis that a microscopic break of the blood brain barrier occurs at the acute time point of mild TBI.

Disorders of the Nervous System:

Neurodevelopmental/ Early Life (eg. ADHD, autism) 1

Modeling and Analysis Methods:

Connectivity (eg. functional, effective, structural) 2
Diffusion MRI Modeling and Analysis

Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Metabolism and Neurotransmission:

White Matter Anatomy, Fiber Pathways and Connectivity

Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:

Diffusion MRI

Keywords:

MRI
STRUCTURAL MRI
Tractography
Trauma
WHITE MATTER IMAGING - DTI, HARDI, DSI, ETC

1|2Indicates the priority used for review

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Please indicate which methods were used in your research:

Structural MRI
Diffusion MRI

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3.0T

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