44. The Relationship of Acetylated Tau and Blood-Based Biomarkers to Neurocognitive Function in College Athletes

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ID: 324481
2026
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Ranked #61 of 79 articles by views in archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the national academy of neuropsychologists

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Abstract
Abstract Purpose TBI produces tau acetylation (ac-tau) which may represent both an available blood-based biomarker (BBB) and may lead to neurodegeneration as ac-tau accumulates with repetitive TBI. The current exploratory study examines ac-tau and other common BBBs and their relationship to neurocognitive performance in college athletes pre/post-season. Method Student athletes with varying degrees of contact exposure from 3 universities in Northeast Ohio completed ac-tau biomarker assays pre/post-season. A subsample consented for processing by an outside lab (Quanterix Corp) for traditional BBBs (GFAP, UCH-L1, NfL, and total-tau). Results 34 athletes (M age=19.00,SD=1.30;59% female;18% Black/Non-White;76% collision/contact sport; 35% previous concussions) completed pre/post-season ac-tau assays and ImPACT testing. In the ac-tau sample and the Quanterix subsample (n=18;67% female; 6% Black/Non-White;72% collision/contact sport; 44% previous concussions), BBB changes were uncorrelated to ImPACT pre/post-season (p>.05) and elevations were not common or more frequent by contact exposure (p>.05). Athletes with concussion history did show greater increase in ac-tau post-season (F(1,26)=4.11,p<.05,partial eta-squared=0.14), though this was unrelated to contact exposure during the season. Other rare findings (e.g.UCH-L1 correlation to Verbal Memory, r=0.69,p<.01; NfL correlation to symptom endorsement, r=-.49,p<.05) were in the wrong direction for clinical utility (better outcome associated with BBB elevation) and are likely spurious in this small sample. Conclusions Ac-tau and BBB elevations were uncommon and changes were unrelated to contact/neurocognitive performance in uninjured college athletes. This finding supports that a single sports season may not produce significant neuronal injury and suggests BBB elevations may be specific to injury/TBI and not sensitive to contact exposure/athletic participation alone.
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Authors H Akbar, Z Bud, A Hautmann, A Pieper, C Bailey
Journal archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the national academy of neuropsychologists
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/arclin/acag055.044
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/arclin/acag055.044
Keywords Keywords not found

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