Neurologic Function across the Lifespan: A Prospective, LONGitudinal, and Translational Study for Former National Football League Players

Leveraging our decades of experience studying the acute and chronic effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion, our investigative team propose an innovative, translational approach that bridges both preclinical and clinical studies. We propose testing multiple potential preventative and therapeutic strategies in the preclinical setting, while simultaneously conducting a prospective, longitudinal study of neurologic health outcomes associated with concussion and sub-concussive exposure in former NFL players. Our prior studies of former NFL players over the past 15 years provide us with a unique opportunity to conduct a truly prospective, longitudinal study of long-term neurologic health outcomes and determine any possible association with concussion and repetitive sub-concussive exposure. In parallel, we have developed animal models of repeated concussions (repetitive mild TBI [rmTBI]) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). We have studied the effects of readily translatable preventative and therapeutic strategies, including the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist memantine, low dose carbon monoxide