The CTE Epidemic

The CTE Epidemic 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/new-87-deceased-nfl-players-test-positive-for-brain-disease/

Article Summary: 

Shocking information has been revealed that 87 of the 91 brains of recently deceased NFL players has tested positive for a brain disease. Boston University and The US Department for Veteran Affairs has now said that over CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is in over 96% of NFL players' brains. The disease is caused by repetitive brain injuring hits that result in several concussions. It can cause dizziness, memory loss, depression, and dementia. 

While the very real disease is still being investigated, the NFL has just made a $1Billion settlement with over 9,000 former players complaining of head injuries. The NFL assures that they are changing the game to protect the players' futures, but the damage may have already been done. 

The NFL will face another blow with the new movie coming out called the League of Denial telling the story of Bennet Omalu research that he brought to the NFL. The research was denied by the NFL. 

The NFL, however, is now continuing to fund research and seek better ways to lessen the blows to the head in the industry. 

Personal Reflection:  

My boyfriend is a division I college football linebacker, and after we discussed this topic in class, I asked him how many concussions he estimated he has had in his college career. His response was over 20. The long term effect of that many concussions is scary. Especially after understanding this disease, I fear for his future. I read one study that said 130 out of less that 160 college football and professional football players' brains have shown CTE. 

I also watched a documentary on ESPN about a Chiefs player who shot his girlfriend in front of their 3 year old daughter, and then drove to his team's practice facility, and shot himself. His brain showed CTE. The effects of this disease are without question devastating and I am thankful light is being shed on the information, regardless of what it does to the industry.

Correlation: 

We discussed this topic in class, which is where I became interested in it. I have continued to research the disease outside of class. In class, however, we looked at scans, similar to the one above, of a normal brain versus one with CTE. You can clearly see the significant amount of damage that the disease has on the brain. I can only imagine what some of the veteran NFL players' brain look like.