Slide 1

•Participants:

• Participants consisted of 26 (n = 26), healthy, college participants (5

males and 21 females) aged 18.46 + .761 years. See Table 1.

•Protocol:

• Participants were tested three times, which included Days 1, 7 and 14.

• Participants were randomly assigned into two groups, which received eitherthe 100 mg of caffeine or a 100 mg placebo capsule at Day 7 and theremaining pill at Day 14.

• Exclusion criterion included the following:

• Age outside 18-24

• Smoking

• Consumption of > 100mg caffeine

• Learning disorder

• Diagnosis of ADD/ADHD

• Consumption of caffeine or alcohol 24 hours prior to testing

• Not meeting Green’s WMT validity criterion

• Not meeting ImPACT validity criterion

• Participants completed:

• Health history questionnaire

• Green’s WMT (Prior to and following ImPACT)

• ImPACT

•Data Analysis:

• Two-tailed paired t-tests were used to assess differences between

performance on the ImPACT with and without caffeine for the WMT and

ImPACT

• Analyses were performed with α = .05

Abstract

Purpose

References

Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

INTRODUCTION: Baseline assessments using computerizedneurocognitive testing (CNT) has been advocated for the management ofsport related concussion (SRC) The ImPACT is a commonly used CNTused in SRC management protocols. A potential extraneous variable,which may influence baseline ImPACT test performance, is caffeine.Caffeine ingestion is prevalent amongst children and adolescents due tothe need to increase or boost energy levels. Sources of random errorsuch as caffeine may limit the clinical utility of the baseline ImPACTassessment following a SRC.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the effect caffeineon computerized neurocognitive testing, using ImPACT, in a healthycollegiate sample.

METHODS:

Design: Participants consisted of 26 (n = 26), healthy, collegeparticipants. Participants completed Green’s Word Memory Test (WMT)and forms 1, 2 and 3 of ImPACT at Days 1, 7, and 14. Form 1 wasadministered to familiarize each participant with the ImPACT and used toemploy the reliable change index. Participants were randomly assignedinto two counterbalanced groups. Depending upon group assignment,each group received a 100 mg caffeine or placebo pill on Day 7 one hourprior to taking the WMT and ImPACT. The same methodology wasemployed using either remaining pill on Day 14.

Measurement: Main outcome measures consisted of ImPACT’s Verbaland Visual Memory, Visual Motor Speed, Reaction Time, Total SymptomScore, and Impulse Control and the WMT’s Immediate and DelayedRecall, Consistency, Multiple Choice, and Paired Recall. Two-tailedpaired t-tests were used to determine significant differences inperformance on the ImPACT and the WMT with and without caffeine. Allanalyses were performed with α = .05..

Results: Our analyses revealed no significant differences for anyImPACT or WMT (p>.05) composite score with administration of caffeineor a placebo. Similar to previous research, we observed ImPACTmisclassified 8 participants at Day 7, and 9 participants at Day 14. Allparticipants included in our analyses provided a valid effort as defined bythe WMT and ImPACT.

Conclusions: Our results suggest caffeine in the amount of 100 mg,which is similar to an 8 oz can of a typical energy drink (Redbull,Rockkstar, Monster, Full Throttle), does not influence performance onImPACT. Future research is needed with a larger sample size andadministration of varying amounts of caffeine to determine its influenceon performance on CNTs.

•The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effect of caffeine onperformance on the ImPACT in a healthy college sample usingpsychometrically sound time points.

• No significant findings between caffeine and placebo with ImPACT andGreen’s WMT.

• All WMT exceeded 85% suggesting a valid effort was provided at each time

point.

• ImPACT misclassified 8 healthy individuals on Day 7 and 9 on Day 14.

Table 1. Demographic Information for participants

Table 2. Means and (SD) for ImPACT Composite Scores

•CNTs are an important component of the concussion managementparadigm/

•In a healthy, college aged sample, we observed no significancebetween 100 mg caffeine and placebo in ImPACT or Green’sWMT.

•Despite all participants providing a valid effort on both the WMTand ImPACT, 8 healthy individuals were misclassified on Day 7and 9 on Day 14.

• Future research should be conducted analyzing the effect higherdoses of caffeine may have on neurocognitive testing.

•Increased ingestion of caffeine by children and adolescents mayhave adverse effects.

1.Meehan , W.P., et al., Computerized neurocognitive testing for themanagement of sport-related concussions. Pediatrics, 2012,129(1): p. 38-44.

2.Resch, J.E., et al. Test-Retest Reliability of the ImPACT: ReliablyUnreliable? Journal of Athletic Training. J Ath Train, 2013,48(3): In Press.

3.Childs, Emma. Wit, Harriet. Subject, behavioral, andphysiological effects of acue caffeine in light, nondependentcaffeine users. Psychopharmacology, 2006 185: 514-523.

4.Schatz, Philip, et. al. Sensitivity and specificity of the ImPACT TestBattery for concussion in athletes. Archives of clinicalneuropsychology, (2006) 21: 91-99.

5.Haskell, Crystal F, et. al. Cognitive and mood improvements ofcaffeine in habitual consumers and habitual non-consumers ofcaffeine. Psychopharmacology, (2005) 179: 813-825

6.Smith, H.J. , Rogers P.J. Effects of low doses of caffeine oncognitive performance, mood and thirst in low and high caffeineconsumers. Psychopharmacology, (2000) 152: 167-13

The Effect of Caffeine on Neurocognitive Testing

Esianor BI*, Blueitt D, Cullum CM, Khan L, Schneider M, Azmar R, Shubet C, Wilson J, Resch JE

The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX

Department of Kinesiology