20 December 2012
EMERGENCY: Contact sports can cause permanent degenerative brain disease.
By Stephen Park, Staff Writer
There is growing evidence in the link between head trauma and long-term, degenerative brain disease. After extensive research was performed on athletes, military veterans and those who received repeated blows to the head, the connection between the two was indisputable, according to findings published in the Scientific Journal of Brain.
The study included brain samples taken from 85 people who suffered from numerous types of traumatic brain injuries. The findings were added to the list of possible consequences for athletes in contact sports such as football and water polo, where hits to the head are routine.
Of the 85 people researched in the study, 80 percent of those who played a sport displayed strong evidence of having C.T.E. (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), an incurable mental disease that can cause memory loss, depression and even dementia.
Among the group of those who possibly have C.T.E. are 50 are football players, 30 of whom formerly played in the N.F.L. Most of them played a position that required higher contact with opponents, such as a lineman or running back. The list also included six high school football players, nine college football players, seven professional boxers and four N.H.L. players.
The study took place over the course of four years and was conducted by investigators at the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy and the Veterans’ Affairs Boston Healthcare System in collaboration with the Sports Legacy Institution. The investigators have recorded four stages of C.T.E. Stage one of the disease includes headaches and loss of attention and concentration. Others with stage two face depression, explosive behavior and short-term memory loss. Stage three bolsters the effects of cognitive impairment and involves trouble with executive functions, such as planning or organizing. Stage four is the rarest form and causes dementia as well as difficulty with words and aggression. As of now there is no cure available for C.T.E. patients.
So all athletes at Poly should take more care while playing their sports. Temporary fame may lead to long-lasting consequences.