TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive Ageing in Top-Level Female Soccer Players Compared to a Normative Sample from the General Population
T2 - A Cross-sectional Study
AU - Prien, Annika
AU - Besuden, Carolin
AU - Junge, Astrid
AU - Feddermann-Demont, Nina
AU - Brugger, Peter
AU - Verhagen, Evert
PY - 2020/8/1
Y1 - 2020/8/1
N2 - Objective:There is an ongoing debate on the potential negative effect of contact sport participation on long-term neurocognitive performance due to inherent exposure to concussive and subconcussive head impacts. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cognitive ageing is exacerbated in elite soccer players compared to the general population.Method:Neurocognitive performance in 6 domains was compared between 240 elite soccer players and a normative sample from the general population (n = 585) using the computerised test battery CNS Vital Signs. We used two-way factorial ANOVA to analyse the interaction between age groups (15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 years) and study population (female soccer players vs. norm sample) in their effects on neurocognitive performance.Results:We found no significant interaction effect of age group and study population in five of six test domains. For processing speed, the effect of age was more pronounced in female soccer players (F = 16.89, p =.002). Further, there was a clear main effect of study population on neurocognitive performance with generally better scores in soccer players.Conclusions:Elite female soccer players generally performed better than the norm sample on tests of cognitive function, and further, cognitive ageing effects were similar in elite soccer players and controls in all but one domain. A lifespan approach may facilitate insightful future research regarding questions related to long-term neurocognitive health in contact sport athletes.
AB - Objective:There is an ongoing debate on the potential negative effect of contact sport participation on long-term neurocognitive performance due to inherent exposure to concussive and subconcussive head impacts. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether cognitive ageing is exacerbated in elite soccer players compared to the general population.Method:Neurocognitive performance in 6 domains was compared between 240 elite soccer players and a normative sample from the general population (n = 585) using the computerised test battery CNS Vital Signs. We used two-way factorial ANOVA to analyse the interaction between age groups (15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 years) and study population (female soccer players vs. norm sample) in their effects on neurocognitive performance.Results:We found no significant interaction effect of age group and study population in five of six test domains. For processing speed, the effect of age was more pronounced in female soccer players (F = 16.89, p =.002). Further, there was a clear main effect of study population on neurocognitive performance with generally better scores in soccer players.Conclusions:Elite female soccer players generally performed better than the norm sample on tests of cognitive function, and further, cognitive ageing effects were similar in elite soccer players and controls in all but one domain. A lifespan approach may facilitate insightful future research regarding questions related to long-term neurocognitive health in contact sport athletes.
KW - Age-related cognitive decline
KW - Ageing athlete
KW - CNS vital signs
KW - Concussion
KW - Football
KW - Neurocognitive performance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85081614854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617720000119
DO - https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617720000119
M3 - Article
C2 - 32098636
SN - 1355-6177
VL - 26
SP - 645
EP - 653
JO - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
JF - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
IS - 7
ER -