High-frequency head impacts cause chronic synaptic adaptations and long-term cognitive impairment [Memantine study]

The goal of this study is to use bulk RNA-sequencing of to observe the effects of High Frequency Head Impacts contibuting to cognitive dysfunction in mice. Our results show HF-HI can alter brain function through synaptic adaptation. HF-HI mice develop chronic cognitive impairments in the absence of traditional brain trauma pathology, and transcriptomic profiling reveals that synapses are a primary target of this effect. Overall design: Mice were subjected to an injection of Memantine or Saline i.p daily 1hr prior to HF-HI or a sham procedure. 24 hours after injury, RNA was isolated from brains. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed on 4 experimental groups with 4 samples per group (Saline+Sham, Saline+HFHI, Memantine+Sham, Memantine+HFHI)