ATTENTION FEMALE ATHLETES: Study on the effect of lifetime exposure to sports-related head impacts and brain health needs you!
Keisuke Kawata
Primary Investigator
Brief description of study
Are You or Someone You Know a Retired Contact Sport or Non-Contact Sport Athlete? Join our study!
Why is this study being done?
Researchers at Indiana University are looking for women to take part in a study that will be examining the relationship between lifetime exposure to sports-related head impacts and midlife brain health in retired, female athletes.
Who can take part?
Females (sex at birth), ages 45-60, who have at least 10 years of organized contact sport experience OR at least 10 years of organized non-contact sport experience.
Detailed description of study
What will happen during the study?
- Attend one online consent meeting (via Zoom) that will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Two online questionnaires will be sent prior to testing day for you to complete which will take approximately 30 minutes.
- Attend one study visit to Indiana University in Bloomington, IN for testing day (approximately 3 hours) which will include the following:
• One venous blood draw
• Two cognitive interviews
• One MRI (brain imaging) scan
Incentive/compensation
- You will receive a $100 visa gift card for completing all of the study requirements.
Eligibility of study
You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:
- Conditions: Healthy
-
Age: 45 years - 60 years
-
Gender: Female
Inclusion Criteria:
- Biologically female (sex at birth)
- Between the ages of 45 and 60
- At least 10 years of organized contact sport experience OR at least 10 years of organized non-contact sport experience
Exclusion Criteria:
- For non-contact athletes: ANY history of contact sport participation or military combat service or training
- Biologically male
- Any head, neck, or facial injury in the previous 6 months
- Pregnancy
- Any history of neurological disorders (limited to closed head injuries with loss of consciousness longer than 15 minutes, spinal cord injury, history of stroke, brain tumor, psychosis, schizophrenia)
- Impaired decisional capacity to provide informed consent
- Any MRI contraindications (i.e. metal implants, implanted electro/magnetic devices (stents, pacemakers, etc.))