Concussion History Predicts Adverse Health in Former College Athletes

Follow Drugslib on

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com

via HealthDay

THURSDAY, March 12, 2026 -- Lifetime concussion history predicts adverse self-reported health outcomes among former collegiate athletes, according to a study published online March 11 in Neurology.

Adrian J. Boltz, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and colleagues examined associations between sport-related head exposure characteristics and physical, mental, cognitive, and behavioral health measures among former collegiate athletes who completed a baseline evaluation between 2018 and 2021 and were evaluated within five years of college graduation. A total of 3,910 former collegiate student-athletes were included: 36.2 percent self-reported at least one lifetime diagnosed concussion; 38.1 percent participated in a high-exposure sport.

The researchers found that compared with athletes without a history of concussion, athletes with three or more concussions had worse scores of Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) anxiety, BSI depression, global severity index (GSI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) total symptom severity, and 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) mental composite score, independently. Compared with athletes with no concussion, those with one to two concussions had worse scores independently for BSI-18, GSI, anxiety, Neuro-Quality of Life cognitive domain, PHQ-9, PSQI, SCAT total symptom severity, and the SF-12 mental composite score.

"While the effect sizes of our findings are quite small, the study participants are still young adults in their 20s, so we don't know if or how these effects might change throughout their lives," coauthor Steven P. Broglio, Ph.D., also from the University of Michigan, said in a statement.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2026-03-13 08:47

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords