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. 1993 Oct;56(10):1055–1061. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.56.10.1055

A prospective controlled investigation of the cognitive effects of amateur boxing.

R J Butler 1, W I Forsythe 1, D W Beverly 1, L M Adams 1
PMCID: PMC1015231  PMID: 8410002

Abstract

Eighty six amateur boxers underwent a series of neuropsychological assessments on three occasions--pre bout, immediate post bout and follow up within two years; 31 water polo players and 47 rugby union players acted as controls. The neuropsychological tests were selected as being sensitive to subtle cognitive dysfunction and formed part of a battery of other neurological and ophthalmic assessments. No evidence of neuropsychological dysfunction due to boxing was found, either following a bout or a series of bouts at follow up. None of a range of parameters including number of previous contests, recovery from an earlier bout, number of head blows received during a bout and number of bouts between initial assessment and follow up, were found to be related to changes in cognitive functioning.

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Selected References

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