# Sex Differences in Brain Structure and Function After Sports-Related Concussion

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $577,913

## Abstract

Women are at increased risk for sustaining a sports-related concussion compared to their male counterparts.
Moreover, female participation in sports is at an all-time high, with ~210,000 female athletes at the college
level in the US, alone. Most importantly, although recent evidence demonstrates worse outcome after
concussion in female athletes, women remain understudied in investigations of traumatic brain injury.
Hormonal, neuromuscular, and developmental differences may affect recovery from concussion particularly in
women. A better understanding of how women are affected initially by concussion and what specific
mechanisms contribute to recovery are thus critical for clinicians to make informed and individualized clinical
management decisions. Thus, there is an urgent need for a prospective study to investigate the underlying
brain structural and functional differences between female and male athletes following concussion in order to
provide a scientific basis for individualized injury management. To address this critical need we propose a five-
year longitudinal study of 150 collegiate athletes including: 1) female and 2) male athletes who sustained a
concussion along with 3) female and 4) male control athletes who have not sustained a concussion, using
advanced neuroimaging, evaluation of clinical symptoms as well as neurocognitive, and motor function. The
long-term goal of this research is to understand the effects of sports-related brain trauma, including the
possible development of biological markers, for diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive purposes. The specific
objectives of the current proposal are to: 1) localize and to characterize sex differences in brain alterations and
clinical sequelae immediately after concussion, 2) determine sex differences in the recovery from concussion,
and 3) identify sex specific risk factors for immediate and persistent brain alterations. We predict the following
outcomes: 1) Sex differences in brain alterations after concussion will be localized and characterized by
changes in WM microstructure and brain metabolites, e.g., GABA and glutathione. 2) Recovery of brain
alterations after concussion will take longer in females compared with males. And finally, 3) Sex specific risk
factors will impact structural and functional brain alterations. Our central hypothesis is that female athletes are
at higher risk for functional and structural alterations and, consequently, at higher risk for worse outcome and
prolonged recovery following concussion. Our hypothesis is based on our own preliminary data, as well as
based on data presented in the existing literature. The rationale underlying this proposal is that once it is
known if and how the female brain is affected differently by concussion and subsequent recovery, we will be
able to provide more targeted individualized management guidelines and patient care. This study will be the
first to provide insight into sex differences in brain structure and function...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10023947
- **Project number:** 5R01NS100952-04
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Inga Katharina Koerte
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $577,913
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10023947

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10023947, Sex Differences in Brain Structure and Function After Sports-Related Concussion (5R01NS100952-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10023947. Licensed CC0.

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