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. 2025 Jan 28;39(2):88-98.
doi: 10.1080/02699052.2024.2405209. Epub 2024 Sep 22.

Health outcomes of former division I college athletes

Jenna R Groh  1 , Eukyung Yhang  2 , Yorghos Tripodis  2 , Joseph Palminsano  2 , Brett Martin  2 , Erin Burke  3 , Urja Bhatia  3 , Jesse Mez  4 , Robert A Stern  4   5   6 , John Gunstad  3 , Michael L Alosco  4
Affiliations

Health outcomes of former division I college athletes

Jenna R Groh et al. Brain Inj. .

Abstract

Background: Former professional collision sport (CS) athletes, particularly American football players, are at risk of developing chronic health conditions; however, little is known about the health outcomes of amateur athletes.

Methods: A 60-item health survey examined self-reported symptoms and diagnoses among former Division 1 Collegiate CS athletes and non- or limited-contact sport (non-CS) athletes. Binary logistic regressions tested the association between playing CS and health outcomes.

Results: Five hundred and two (6.2%) participants completed the survey: 160 CS athletes (mean age: 59.2, SD = 16.0) and 303 non-CS athletes (mean age: 54.0, SD = 16.9). CS athletes had increased odds of reported cognitive complaints and neuropsychiatric symptoms including memory (Padj < 0.01), attention/concentration (Padj = 0.01), problem solving/multi-tasking (Padj = 0.05), language (Padj = 0.02), anxiety (Padj = 0.04), impulsivity (Padj = 0.02), short-fuse/rage/explosivity (Padj < 0.001), and violence/aggression (Padj = 0.02). CS athletes also reported higher rates of sleep apnea (Padj = 0.02). There were no group differences in cardiovascular and physical health outcomes.

Conclusions: Former CS athletes reported more cognitive and neuropsychiatric complaints. The low response rate is a limitation of this study; however, over 500,000 athletes play college sports each year, thus research on long-term health outcomes in this population is critical.

Keywords: College athletes; aging athlete; contact and collision sports; football (American); head injuries/concussion; head trauma; repetitive head impacts.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS:

JRG: None to report

EY: None to report

YT: None to report

JP: None to report

BM: None to report

EB: None to report

UB: None to report

JM: None to report

RAS: is a member of the Board of Directors of King-Devick Technologies, Inc. (Chicago, IL, USA), and he receives royalties for published neuropsychological tests from Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. (Lutz, FL, USA), and consulting fees from Eisai.

JG: None to report

MLA: receives royalties from Oxford University Press Inc and has received a single time honorarium from the Michael J Fox Foundation for services unrelated to this study. He also reports research support from Life Molecular Imaging Inc and Rainwater Charitable Foundation Inc.

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