Multimodal brain imaging of mild traumatic brain injuries in athletes: a systematic review with narrative synthesis
Year: 2026
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a neurological event caused by external mechanical force to the head. Athletes in contact sports are at particular risk for repeated mTBI which can lead to cognitive symptoms and long-term adverse health outcomes such as persistent post-concussive symptoms or dementia. So far, no objective biomarkers exist for mTBI, as computed tomography (CT) and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are blind to microstructural and functional brain alterations upon mTBI, Moreover, research is challenged by the heterogenous nature of mTBI and comorbid psychiatric conditions. To address these limitations, multimodal brain imaging studies appear to be promising approaches. Consequently, this study systematically reviewed multimodal imaging studies of athletes and summarized key neuroimaging findings. The databases Web of Science and PubMed (MEDLINE) were searched between January and March 2026 (all years). 14 studies were included in the narrative analysis. The main neuroimaging modalities used were functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to assess changes in functional connectivity and cerebral blood flow, diffusion metrics, and brain metabolites, respectively. However, no study combined MRI-based and electrophysiological methods. Altered neuroimaging findings were identified beyond the acute and subacute phase. Nonetheless, no consistent neuroimaging pattern emerged due to heterogeneity in sample characteristics, study design, and analysis. To strengthen biomarker research, future studies should aim to implement standardized, longitudinal study designs including baseline assessments followed by multimodal data fusion analysis.
Source: Frontiers in Neurology
Authors: Anna Bergauer, Fabio Richlan
Institution: University of Salzburg
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7223328174