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Concussion-Associated Gene Variant COMT rs4680 Is Associated With Elite Rugby Athlete Status
,
Mark Bennett,
Robert M. Erskine,
Stuart M. Raleigh,
Malcolm Collins,
Yannis P. Pitsiladis,
Shane Heffernan ,
Alun G. Williams
Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, Volume: 33, Issue: 5
Swansea University Authors:
Liam Kilduff , Mark Bennett, Shane Heffernan
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DOI (Published version): 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001030
Abstract
Objective: Concussions are common match injuries in elite rugby and reports exist of reduced cognitive function and long-term health consequences that can interrupt or end a playing career and produce continued ill health. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between elite rugby...
| Published in: | Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine |
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| ISSN: | 1050-642X |
| Published: |
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
2023
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59448 |
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| Abstract: |
Objective: Concussions are common match injuries in elite rugby and reports exist of reduced cognitive function and long-term health consequences that can interrupt or end a playing career and produce continued ill health. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between elite rugby status and eight concussion-associated risk polymorphisms. We hypothesized that concussion-associated risk genotypes and alleles would be underrepresented in elite rugby athletes compared to non-athletes. Design: A case-control genetic association study. Setting: Institutional (university). Participants: Elite Caucasian male rugby athletes (n = 668, mean (standard deviation) height 1.85 (0.07) m, mass 102 (12) kg, age 29 (7) yr) and 1015 non-athlete Caucasian men and women (48% men). Interventions: Genotype was the independent variable, obtained via PCR of genomic DNA using TaqMan probes. Main Outcome Measure: Elite athlete status, with groups compared using χ2 and odds ratio. Results: The COMT rs4680 Met/Met (AA) genotype, Met allele possession and Met allele frequency were lower in rugby athletes (24.8%, 74.6% and 49.7%, respectively) than non-athletes (30.2%, 77.6%, and 54.0%; P < 0.05). The Val/Val (GG) genotype was more common in elite rugby athletes than non-athletes (odds ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.86). No other polymorphism was associated with elite athlete status. Conclusions: Elite rugby athlete status is associated with COMT rs4680 genotype that, acting pleiotropically, could affect stress resilience and behavioral traits during competition, concussion risk and/or recovery from concussion. Consequently, assessing COMT rs4680 genotype might aid future individualized management of concussion risk amongst athletes. |
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| Keywords: |
Rugby, genetics, concussion, brain, polymorphism, behavior |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Issue: |
5 |