Progesterone Levels in Adolescent Female Athletes May Contribute to Decreased Cognitive Performance During Acute Phase of Sports-Related Concussion

ABSTRACT

Although many outcome studies pertaining to sports-related concussion exist, female athletes with concussion remain an understudied group. We examined whether neurocognitive performance in adolescent females with sports-related concussion (SRC) is related to menstrual cycle-related hormone levels measured at one-week post-concussion, one-month post-concussion, or both. Thirty-eight female athletes, ages 14–18, were matched into two groups: SRC or healthy control. Self-reported symptom scores were higher among concussed females in the luteal phase, when progesterone levels are highest. Results suggest that progesterone levels may contribute to a heightened experience of symptoms during the acute phase of SRC, providing further evidence of a possible link between progesterone and symptom scores following concussion.

Acknowledgement

The investigators would like to thank all of the athletes for their participation in this study, and the diagnostic lab at Memorial Hermann for assistance with the blood draws. We would like to pay our gratitude and respect to Lorie Gonzalez, Ph.D. who unexpectedly passed away. She was a dedicated researcher and friend and contributed significantly to this study. She was an avid sports fan and had an even bigger passion for the health and safety of athletes.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The funding was supported by The Moody Endowment.