Participation in Pre–High School Football and Neurological, Neuroradiological, and Neuropsychological Findings in Later Life A Study of 45 Retired National Football League Players

Background:A recent study found that an earlier age of first exposure (AFE) to tackle football was associated with long-term neurocognitive impairment in retired National Football League (NFL) players.Purpose:To assess the association between years of exposure to pre–high school football (PreYOE) and neuroradiological, neurological, and neuropsychological outcome measures in a different sample of retired NFL players.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Forty-five former NFL players were included in this study. All participants prospectively completed extensive history taking, a neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests. To measure the associations between PreYOE and these outcome measures, multiple regression models were utilized while controlling for several covariates.Results:After applying a Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons, none of the neurological, neuroradiological, or neuropsychologic...