BU ADC Bulletin Spring 2015 Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center Funded by the National Institute on Aging Study Finds Association between Youth Football In This Issue and Later-life Cognitive Impairment “The part of my job A NEW study of retired National Football League that I enjoy the most (NFL) players found an association between youth is working with families football and later-life cognitive impairment. by helping them and Led by senior author Dr. Robert Stern, Boston bringing positive comfort University Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinical from a tragic loss,” Core Director, the study took a different approach in examining the potential risks of football — Mr. Christopher participation by focusing on age of first exposure to tackle Nowinski, Outreach, football and whether or not it was associated with cognitive Recruitment, and difficulties later in life. Education Core member of the Boston University The study, published in the journal Neurology shortly before Super Bowl XLIX, used data from Alzheimer’s Disease 42 former NFL players from the DETECT (Diagnosing and Evaluating Traumatic Encephalopathy Center . 6 Using Clinical Tests) study. These players, all of whom had reported memory and thinking problems over the last 6 months, were separated into two groups: those who began playing tackle football before age 12, and those who began to play at age 12 or older. Players were given a neuropsychological testing battery and went through an extensive medical and athletic history, including history of concussions. The results showed that players who began tackle football before 12 years old had greater problems in memory, intelligence, and executive function. “We were surprised by how striking the results were,” said first author Julie Stamm, a PhD candidate at Boston University. “Every single test was significantly different, by a lot.” Christopher Nowinski The study team chose age 12 as the cutoff point because it appears to be a key age in brain development for boys, which may provide a window of vulnerability during which the brain is HOPE for the Present and especially sensitive to repeated hits to the head. A Cure for the Future ...2 The study is not without its limitations, however. The sample size is small and it focuses on Educate and professional football players. Thus, the results may not be applicable to those individuals who Communicate ..........3 did not play professionally or to those who played other sports such as soccer and ice hockey. Recruiting Studies ...... 4 Future studies will be able to focus on larger and more diverse samples and on longitudinal designs. Nevertheless, this study is the first to suggest a link between age of first exposure to Research Updates ......5 tackle football and later-life cognitive problems. It opens our eyes to the possible consequences of BU ADC Happenings ...6 repetitive head trauma in youth athletes. NEWSREEL ...Back Cover www.bu.edu/alzresearch | 888.458.2823 HOPE for the Present and A Cure for the Future ADC University for Community Members Providing HOPE is one of many goals of the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC). We hope to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease and inspire others to believe The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC) kicked off ADC University that there is hope in finding a cure. Without research participation, the BU ADC could not in the summer of 2014 with a course titled perform its cutting-edge research that is so desperately needed to cure Alzheimer’s and AGEWISE. AGEWISE is a free classroom- help those with the disease. learning environment that focuses on providing HOPE is also an acronym for the main registry for participants in the BU ADC. HOPE community members of all ages with engaging stands for Health Outreach Program for the Elderly. People who join HOPE attend a yearly and up-to-date information on brain aging. visit in which their memory and thinking abilities The 6 weekly sessions are held once a year. “The HOPE Team is the best are evaluated. They also participate in other BU Participants in the 6-week session gain a better group of people; they are ADC-affiliated studies. Interested volunteers may understanding of how the brain ages normally friendly and they are like join this important registry if they can attend a and how this normal aging is different from yearly visit with a study partner and are age 65 or Alzheimer’s disease. It also teaches about family! The atmosphere is older with or without memory concerns, or are age lifestyle practices that can improve successful perfect, and any questions 50 or older with memory concerns. brain aging as well as techniques for reducing some common problems that result from normal you have, they listen and Charlene Francis is a participant in our HOPE study aging. “The biggest thing I took away from and also serves on our Community Action Council. they are very open.” this class is learning how beneficial physical Ms. Francis has been enrolled in the HOPE study Charlene Francis, HOPE Participant exercise can be for my brain. I recommend for 11 years. She was motivated to participate this course to all my friends and encourage in research because her mother had passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2005. “By everyone to attend,” said Carol Ann Yancey, participating in HOPE, I learned that as you age things happen to you, and the HOPE team who is a graduate of our AGEWISE class. explains why there are changes and clarifies what is normal aging and what is not. Fear is still in the back of my mind, but by participating I gain knowledge about the signs and symptoms. I am then able to educate my friends and family,” said Ms. Francis. Ms. Francis wants to help increase understanding of Alzheimer’s disease for the African American community. Ms. Francis states, “Community members have seen their loved ones age and may think it is ‘normal’ aging or think their loved one is just ‘senile’ if they don’t understand the disease.” The Alzheimer’s disease label can be very frightening, particularly if it is not well understood the first reaction is to not believe it or understand it. A person wants to know answers to questions such as, is it inherited, and does it happen to all old people? “ By participating in research, individuals will not only play an important role in helping find a cure and prevent for Alzheimer’s Disease in the future, but they will also gain a better Dr . Maureen O’Connor, Associate Director of the Outreach, Recruitment, and Education Core understanding of the disease. “Research participation fulfills that most important need for & ADC University Director, speaks on Local everyone touched by the disease: a sense of hope,” said Dr. Robert Stern, BU ADC Clinical Cable TV Show titled Agewise . Core Director. About Us The Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center (BU ADC) aims to reduce the human and economic costs of Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of knowledge. We conduct cutting-edge Alzheimer’s research and provide education about aging and dementia to professionals and communities in Boston and beyond. The BU ADC Outreach, Recruitment, and Education core publishes the BU ADC Bulletin twice per year. It includes stories about research findings, participants, new studies, and more. BU ADC Bulletin Staff Contact Information BU ADC Leadership Publisher & Co-Editor-in-Chief: Website: bu.edu/alzresearch Neil Kowall, MD, Center Director, Ann McKee, MD, Andrew Budson, MD, Facebook: facebook.com/BUmemoryloss Administrative Core Director Neuropathology Core Director, Outreach, Recruitment, and Twitter: twitter.com/BUmemoryloss Andrew Budson, MD, Center Associate Director Education Core Director Outreach, Recruitment, and Thor Stein, MD, Co-Editor-in-Chief: Comments or questions for Bulletin staff Education Core Director, Neuropathology Core Maureen K . O’Connor, PsyD, & interested in research participation? Center Associate Director Associate Director Outreach, Recruitment, and Email: [email protected] Maureen K . O’Connor, PsyD, Lee Goldstein, MD, PhD, Education Core Associate Director Other questions? Outreach, Recruitment, and Executive Committee Member Editor & Staff Writer: Education Core Associate Director Email: [email protected] Benjamin Wolozin, MD, Christina DiTerlizzi, BA, Christopher Nowinski, MA, Pilot Program Manager Phone: 617-414-1077 Education Programs Manager Outreach, Recruitment, and Toll-Free: 888-458-2823 Carmela Abraham, MD, Staff Writer: Education Core Member Pilot Program Manager Alexandra Bourlas, MA, Fax: 617-414-1197 Robert Stern, PhD, Recruitment Coordinator Robert Cantu, MD, Clinical Core Director CTE-BU ADC Clinical Diagnostics Christine Chaisson, MPH, and Therapeutics Leader Data Management & Statistics Core Director 2 Boston University Continuing Medical Community Action Education Course Council The BU ADC provided a full-day Continuing Medical Education The Boston University Alzheimer’s course for 60 medical profession- Disease Center (BU ADC) aims als on October 27th, 2014. This to educate and support the multidisciplinary course covered community and bring awareness the fundamentals of mild cognitive about Alzheimer’s disease. One impairment and early Alzheimer’s way in which we empower and 2014-2015 Community Action Council Members disease, including diagnosis and engage community leaders clinical course, neuropathological on issues about Alzheimer’s underpinnings, risk factors and “It is exciting to be able to collaborate disease and research is through our BU ADC prevention, and pharmacological