Impactos da concussão cerebral sobre as funções executivas em atletas de esportes de combate: uma revisão sistemática

Abstract

Concussion is a trauma that causes abrupt mechanical acceleration and deceleration of the brain. The consequences of this impact involve impairments in executive functions, which are mental processes that are crucial for good cognitive, psychological, and social development. Considering the high incidence of cerebral concussion in combat sports, the present study aimed to understand the impacts of this trauma on central executive functions in these athletes. To this end, a systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA method, resulting in eleven articles included in the review. The fighting modalities found were boxing and MMA, with boxing being the most common (91%), signaling the need for further investigation into other modalities. The results also indicate that 81.9% of studies indicate impairment of executive functions after the occurrence of concussion, with inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility being the most impacted functions. Therefore, the importance of public policies that promote ways of monitoring and intervening in the occurrence of concussion and its neuropsychological sequelae is understood. Furthermore, it is necessary to standardize instruments for assessing executive functions in this context and further research to deepen the findings of the present study.