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Motorsports Now Part of Groundbreaking Study on Effects of Repetitive Head Impacts PATASKALA, Ohio, Feb. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MDK Motorsports has launched a commitment to support research of the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts (RHI) in active and retired professional athletes through Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health's Professional Athletes Brain Health Study (PABHS). Continue Reading Human brain. The largest study of professional athletes exposed to RHI, the PABHS is aimed at understanding the long-term effects of these impacts, including means to detect accumulating brain injury early and factors that put certain individuals at higher (or lower) risk of developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). MDK Motorsports' support, both financially and with the referral of its athletes to participate in the study, marks an expansion of the program to include professional motorsports drivers and riders, signaling an important initiative for the burgeoning sport. Notably, the United States Auto Club (USAC) and Porsche Motorsport North America have also announced their support for the PABHS, underscoring the motorsports industry's commitment to brain health. The world of motorsports is experiencing rapid growth in the United States, and the effects of repetitive head impacts and gravitational forces on drivers, while not immediately apparent, can be significant. Exposure to RHI or trauma increases the risk of long-term brain damage, including CTE. Current peer-reviewed research suggests that motorsports participants, especially in disciplines like motocross, may face a higher risk of concussion and brain injury.Dr. Charles Bernick, a neurologist at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and primary investigator of the PABHS, expressed his enthusiasm about the addition of motorsports to the study, stating, "Our knowledge of concussion frequency in motorsports is limited, and there is a critical need to understand the long-term neurological effects of cumulative exposure to impacts and high velocity, high G forces that these athletes experience. The insights gained from motorsports have the potential to enhance long-term brain safety for professional drivers and athletes in other sports as well."While motorsports currently have concussion protocols in place, there are no existing studies on the prolonged effects of repetitive head contact on professional motorsports racers. Megan Kvamme, CEO, MDK Motorsports: "I am deeply honored to collaborate with Dr. Bernick on this significant research and education endeavor. Our mission at MDK Motorsports goes beyond the track; it's about caring for our driver and rider athletes. This initiative isn't just about addressing existing issues; it's about proactive protection. I call upon the entire racing community to actively participate in this study. Together, we can gain invaluable insights into this critical issue and ensure the safety and well-being of our athletes today and for generations to come." Kevin Miller, President & CEO, United States Auto Club (USAC): "We are excited to support this vital research and education initiative. Motorsports has always been about pushing the boundaries of performance, but it's equally important to prioritize the well-being of our racers. Brain health is paramount, and this underscores our commitment to protecting the men and women who thrill us on the track." Volker Holzmeyer, President & CEO, Porsche Motorsport North America: "Porsche is about learning from our experience on the racetrack and using that knowledge to improve our cars even further. For decades we have recognized the importance of physically and mentally fit drivers, and we are constantly looking for ways to educate. As a result, we are proud to support the work of the Professional Athletes Brain Health Study to further advance the cause." Jan Magnussen, former F1 driver and four-time winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: "After spending years in the fast-paced world of racing, I've seen firsthand the effects of repetitive head contact. That's why I fully support this important study. It's not just about understanding the past but protecting the future, including racers like my son, Kevin, who's making his mark in Formula One. Let's ensure they have long and healthy careers in motorsports." ABOUT MDK MOTORSPORTS For more information about MDK Motorsports, visit the team website and follow along via social media on Facebook and Instagram. SOURCE MDKMotorsports

A new BU CTE Center paper connects cognitive and behavioral symptoms to protein buildup in the brain that marks the disease. Years of research have shown that athletes who play high-contact sports -- like tackle football and soccer -- and endure frequent hits to the head risk developing a neurodegenerative disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It's not just the number of years a person plays that can predict the likelihood of developing CTE -- it's also the cumulative force of head trauma. But a big remaining question is how, and if, CTE is connected to a range of cognitive, behavioral, and neurological symptoms. Since CTE can only be formally diagnosed after a person dies, it's difficult to track how it impacts mental well-being during life. Now, a new study from Boston University's CTE Center edges experts closer to being able to diagnose the disease in the living. In a paper published in Molecular Neurodegeneration, researchers show a clear relationship between the amount of CTE pathology -- meaning the accumulation of a protein called p-tau in specific regions of the brain -- and the severity of a person's cognitive and behavioral symptoms during their life. CTE is characterized by an accumulation of misfolded tau protein (p-tau is short for hyperphosphorylated tau) that is different from aging-related changes or any other neurodegenerative disease. "For the first time, we were able to show a clear dose-response relationship between the amount of CTE pathology and the severity of cognitive and functional symptoms, including problems with memory and executive function," says Jesse Mez, a CTE Center codirector of clinical research and coauthor on the study. The research team measured the amount of p-tau pathology across 11 different brain regions in 364 brains with autopsy-confirmed CTE that were donated to BU's UNITE Brain Bank. They also asked family and friends of the brain donors to complete several standardized assessments to shine a light on their loved one's cognitive, functional, mood, and behavioral symptoms. The researchers then examined the relationship between the p-tau pathology and results of the behavior assessments. They found that p-tau pathology across the brain, most predominantly in the frontal lobe, was associated with more reported cognitive functional symptoms, including difficulties in attention, memory, perception, and psychomotor abilities. P-tau in the frontal lobe was associated with some neurobehavioral symptoms, like the reduced ability to control impulses and self-monitor behavior, but overall there was a higher correlation between cognition than neurobehavior. "A limitation of this study is the use of informants to describe the different symptoms their loved ones experienced," says study coauthor Michael Alosco, a CTE Center codirector of clinical research and BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine associate professor of neurology. "This can offer valuable information, but we need to move toward a model where we objectively assess individuals during life and follow them until brain donation." Although the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has published criteria for diagnosing CTE before death -- flagging symptoms related to memory and executive function -- they are only approved for use in research, not patients. But the BU team hopes their latest findings validate the symptom criteria, with the hope that they can eventually help living CTE patients obtain a diagnosis and treatment plan. "These findings provide a clear step forward toward diagnosing CTE in life," says Mez, who is also a BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine associate professor of neurology. "Diagnosis is crucial before we can test therapies. With validated in-life diagnostic criteria, we will be able to design clinical trials for therapies." Funding for this study came from the National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Department of Defense.

HOUSTON, Dec. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) is pleased to join forces with The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) on an important contract to support neuroscience research for service members. This new award will specifically focus on those affected by traumatic brain injuries. Research will be done in collaboration with the Uniformed Services University (the nation's only federal health sciences university), and the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Under the terms of the Service Personnel Advancing Research in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (SPARC) contract, KBR will provide outreach, education and data analytics to support critical neuroscience research for the prevention and treatment of military members with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, with the potential for a term of 52 months, will also assist in the development of therapeutics to treat this serious illness. "Not only does this program help ensure the well-being of our service members, but it exemplifies KBR's commitment to our nation's heroes and cutting-edge neuroscience research to those who need it most," said President of KBR Government Solutions U.S. Byron Bright. "Supporting our military is one of KBR's top priorities and I am pleased to witness the growth of our human health and technology portfolio to further this important work." KBR has supported the health and performance of NASA astronauts through its Human Health and Performance Contract (HHPC) for decades, in addition to the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of U.S. military personnel through the Preservation of Force and Family (POTFF) contract. KBR also continues to collaborate with the Airmen Readiness and Medical Research (ARMR) contract on various brain scanning and neuroimaging projects. The SPARC program leverages the experience and knowledge from these established programs to further the understanding, treatment and ultimately prevention of CTE in our military personnel. About KBR We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 34,000 people performing diverse, complex and mission-critical roles in 33 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit . Forward Looking Statements The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding the future term and performance of the SPARC contract, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc.