Newswise ATLANTA, Ga. Thomas R. Terrell, MD presented Prospective Cohort Study of the Association of Genetic Polymorphisms and Concussion Risk and Postconcussion Neurocognitive Deficits in College Athletes at the 21st American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga. on April 23, 2012.

A multi-center prospective cohort study of over 3,200 college and high school athletes was designed to look at the association of genetic polymorphisms with risk of acute concussion and for an associative link with longer duration of symptoms. Following analysis trying to link certain genetic polymorpisms, those evaluated did not show an association with prospective concussions, although some association was found in a pooled analysis of self-reported and prospective concussions.

Dr. Terrell, a two-time AMSSM Foundation Research Award winner, commented, Although we did not find an association of these genetic factors in association prospectively with concussions, the next segment of our research is to evaluate other genetic factors, particularly for associations with severe or recurrent concussions. He was optimistic about possible associations and said, As we look at further data and expand our numbers of concussions included in the study, part of the Tau gene and other genetic polymorphisms have a link in explaining neurocognitive recovery

The AMSSM annual conference features lectures and research addressing the most challenging topics in sports medicine today including prevention of sudden death, cardiovascular issues in athletes, concussion, biologic therapies, and other controversies facing the field of sports medicine.

More than 1,200 sports medicine physicians from across the United States and 12 countries around the world are attending the meeting.

Dr. Terrell is an Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.

The AMSSM is a multi-disciplinary organization of sports medicine physicians whose members are dedicated to education, research, advocacy, and the care of athletes of all ages. Founded in 1991, the AMSSM is now comprised of more than 2,000 sports medicine physicians whose goal is to provide a link between the rapidly expanding core of knowledge related to sports medicine and its application to patients in a clinical setting.

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Genetic Associations with Concussions Discussed by AMSSM Researcher