Neurochemical Aftermath of Amateur Boxing

Abstract

Professional boxing is associated with risk for long-term neurologic injury.¹ The development of chronic neurologic symptoms in this setting was originally referred to as the punch-drunk syndrome or dementia pugilistica.^2,3 The terminology has evolved with time, and the entity is now termed chronic traumatic brain injury and occurs in approximately 20% of professional boxers.⁴ The clinical manifestations vary depending on the accumulated number of blows to the head, career duration, performance as a boxer, and ability to withstand many hits.^1,4 According to some studies, amateur boxers also show neuropsychologic and neuroimaging evidence of chronic traumatic brain injury,^5,6 although at a lower incidence than in professional boxers. There is, however, lack of consensus in the scientific literature, possibly because the expected effects are less severe in amateur boxing compared with professional boxing owing to less exposure to repetitive head trauma because of shorter bouts and the mandatory use of protective headgear.