The effect of age on baseline neurocognitive performance

Objective: Evaluate the independent effect of age on baseline neurocognitive performance. Study Design: Baseline ImPACT scores from tests taken by 7454 athletes aged 12-22 from 2009 to 2019 were split into three age cohorts: 12-14 years (3244), 15-17 years (3732), and 18-22 years (477). Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the effect of age on ImPACT composite scores while controlling for demographic differences, medication-use, and symptom burden. Significance values have been set at p < 0.05. Results: Linear regression analyses demonstrated that increased age does not significantly affect symptom score (beta = 0.06, p = 0.54) but does improve impulse control (beta = -0.45, p < 0.0001), verbal memory (beta = 0.23, p = 0.03), visualmotor (beta = 0.77, p < 0.0001), and reaction time (beta = -0.008, p < 0.0001) scores. However, age did not have an effect on visual memory scores (beta = -0.25, p = 0.07). Conclusions: Age was shown to be an independent modifier of impulse control, verbal memory, visual motor, and reaction time scores but not visual memory or symptom scores. This underscores the previous literature showing developmental differences as age increases among the adolescent athlete population. This data also indicates the need for repeat neurocognitive baseline testing every other year as baseline scoring is likely to change as athletes become older.