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Abstract
Background: Concussions exert persistent effects on asymptomatic athletes, especially women. Among chief mechanisms of concussion recovery are alterations of neuronal plasticity. Olfactory function, often impaired following a concussion, greatly involves plasticity and, therefore, appears as a good candidate to study the deleterious effects of concussions. The BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (BDNFMet), which reduces availability of BDNF in the brain, has surprisingly been associated with better recovery following concussion.
Objective: This study examines the mediating effect of BDNFMet on olfactory functions in asymptomatic concussed female athletes.
Methods: Participants, 105 female university athletes, were divided into four groups based on their history of concussion (Concussion/No concussion) and BDNF polymorphism (BDNF Val66Val/Val66Met). Odour threshold, discrimination and identification were measured using the Sniffin’ Sticks Inventory Test.
Results: Concussed female BDNFMet athletes performed significantly better than BDNFVal counterparts on threshold (F(1, 34) = 4.73, p < 0.05), discrimination (F(1, 52) = 5.36, p < 0.05), identification tests (F(1, 52) = 5.65, p < 0.05) and total olfactory scores (F(1, 34) = 9.54, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: These results support a genotypic effect of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on long-term olfactory function following a concussion in young female athletes.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. This work was supported by the Bishop’s Senate Research Committee (L.D.B., B.A.B.), the Canadian Institute of Health Research (L.D.B., M.L, H.T.) and the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (L.D.B., M.L., H.T., E.C.).