Table 5 Demographic summary of DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project sample at baseline
Former NFL players (PRO) | Former college football players (COL) | Unexposed (UE) | p valuea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total N | 120 | 60 | 60 | – |
Age, mean (SD) years | 59.1 (7.8) | 53.5 (7.7) | 59.3(8.3) | < 0.01b |
Age by decade, n (%) years | ||||
45–54 | 42 (35.0) | 44 (73.3) | 23 (38.3) | < 0.01 |
55–64 | 46 (38.3) | 9 (15.0) | 15 (25.0) | |
65–75 | 32 (26.7) | 7 (11.7) | 22 (36.7) | |
Body mass index, mean (SD) kg/m2 | 32.0 (4.5) | 33.8 (4.8) | 30.8 (4.5) | < 0.01c |
Years of education, mean (SD) | 16.6 (1.1) | 17.1 (1.0) | 17.3 (3.4) | 0.38 |
Level of education, n (%) | ||||
Some college, no degree | 15 (12.5) | 5 (8.3) | 7 (11.7) | < 0.01 |
Associate degree | 2 (1.7) | 1 (1.7) | 8 (13.3) | |
Bachelor’s degree | 82 (68.3) | 35 (58.3) | 23 (38.3) | |
Master’s degree | 16 (13.3) | 17(28.3) | 12 (20.0) | |
Doctoral degree | 5 (4.2) | 2 (3.4) | 10 (16.7) | |
Racial Identity, n (%) | ||||
American Indian or Alaska Native | 1 (0.8) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0.05 |
Black or African American | 51 (42.5) | 10 (16.7) | 24 (40.0) | |
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.7) | |
White | 66 (55.0) | 48 (80.0) | 35 (58.3) | |
Multiracial | 1 (0.8) | 1 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
Not reported | 1 (0.8) | 1 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
Ethnicity, n (%) | ||||
Hispanic or Latino | 3 (2.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0.28 |
Not Hispanic or Latino | 117 (97.5) | 60 (100.0) | 59 (98.3) | |
Unknown/not reported | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.7) | |
Marital status, n (%) | ||||
Never married | 5 (4.2) | 3 (5.0) | 15 (25.0) | < 0.01 |
Married or domestic partnership | 88 (73.3) | 43 (70.0) | 31 (51.6) | |
Divorced or separated | 23 (19.2) | 14 (23.3) | 13 (21.7) | |
Widowed | 1 (0.8) | 1 (1.7) | 0 (0.0) | |
Other | 3 (2.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.7) | |
Employment status, n (%) | ||||
Working full-time | 57 (47.5) | 40 (66.7) | 27 (45.0) | < .01 |
Working part-time | 10 (8.3) | 0 (0.0) | 11 (18.3) | |
Unemployed | 1 (0.8) | 7 (11.7) | 1 (1.7) | |
Retired | 38 (31.7) | 9 (15.0) | 21 (35.0) | |
Disabled | 13 (10.8) | 2 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
Other/refused | 1 (0.8) | 2 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
Level of father’s education, n (%) | ||||
Less than high school | 24 (20.0) | 3 (5.0) | 8 (13.3) | 0.01 |
High school diploma or graduate equivalent degree (GED) | 43 (35.8) | 15 (25.0) | 18 (30.0) | |
Some college or associate degree | 10 (8.3) | 11 (18.3) | 6 (10.0) | |
Bachelor’s degree | 15 (12.5) | 19 (31.7) | 12 (20.0) | |
Master’s degree | 9 (7.5) | 6 (10.0) | 10 (16.7) | |
Doctoral degree | 7 (5.8) | 4 (6.7) | 3 (5.0) | |
Unknown | 12 (10.0) | 2 (3.3) | 3 (5.0) | |
Level of mother’s education, n (%) | ||||
Less than high school | 19 (15.8) | 4 (6.7) | 5 (8.3) | 0.04 |
High school diploma or GED | 52 (43.3) | 21 (35.0) | 22 (36.7) | |
Some college or associate degree | 16 (13.3) | 11 (18.3) | 11 (18.3) | |
Bachelor’s degree | 18 (15.0) | 17 (28.3) | 10 (16.7) | |
Master’s degree | 6 (5.0) | 6 (10.0) | 8 (13.3) | |
Doctoral degree | 1 (0.8) | 1 (1.7) | 3 (5.0) | |
Unknown | 8 (6.7) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.7) | |
History of learning disability or ADHD, n (%) | 9 (7.5) | 10 (16.7) | 1 (1.7) | 0.02 |
Site evaluated, n (%) | ||||
Boston | 26 (21.7) | 18 (30.0) | 20 (33.3) | 0.58 |
Las Vegas | 33 (27.5) | 13 (21.7) | 11 (18.3) | |
New York | 28 (23.3) | 15 (25.0) | 16 (26.7) | |
Scottsdale/Phoenix | 33 (27.5) | 14 (23.3) | 13 (21.7) | |
Primary position at highest level of football, n (%) | ||||
Offensive lineman | 22 (18.3) | 22 (36.7) | – | 0.09 |
Defensive lineman | 14 (11.7) | 5 (8.3) | ||
Offensive back or receiver | 36 (30.0) | 14 (23.3) | ||
Linebacker | 21 (17.5) | 7 (11.7) | ||
Defensive back | 23 (19.2) | 12 (20.0) | ||
Special teams | 4 (3.3) | 0 (0.0) | ||
Total years of football, mean (SD) | 18.0 (3.3) | 11.5 (2.5) | – | < 0.01 |
Total fall seasons of college football, mean (SD) | 4.1 (0.5) | 3.9 (0.6) | – | 0.11 |
Total years of NFL participation, mean (SD) | 7.4 (2.7) | – | – | – |
Age of first exposure to football, mean (SD) | 11.5 (2.8) | 10.2 (2.6) | – | < 0.01 |
Neuroimaging data available, n (%) | ||||
Magnetic resonance imaging | 114 (95.0) | 55 (91.7) | 56 (93.3) | – |
Tau PET – Flortaucipir | 112 (93.3) | 58 (96.7) | 58 (96.7) | |
Amyloid PET – Florbetapir | 119 (99.2) | 60 (100.0) | 58 (96.7) | |
Biofluids collected, n (%) | ||||
Cerebrospinal fluid | 102 (85.0) | 40 (66.7) | 46 (76.7) | – |
Blood (plasma, serum, whole blood) | 118 (98.3) | 58 (96.7) | 58 (96.7) | |
Saliva | 120 (100.0) | 60 (100.0) | 58 (96.7) | |
MoCA total raw score, mean (SD) | 24.3 (3.5) | 25.4 (3.2) | 26.5 (2.3) | < 0.01d |
Functional Activities Questionnaire – Informant Total, mean (SD) | 3.9 (5.5) | 3.2 (4.9) | 0.4 (2.4) | < 0.01e |
ApoE genotype – n (%) ε4 carriersf | 33 (28.7) | 20 (33.9) | 11 (19.6) | 0.22 |