February 8, 2023 – The brains of nearly all NFL players examined in a study showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain injury related to repeated blows to the pinnacle, Boston University researchers announced.
In the studyOf 376 former NFL players, 345 – nearly 92% – have been diagnosed with CTE, a condition that may only be definitively diagnosed after death. The results were intentionally announced ahead of this Sunday's Super Bowl.
“There is a love of football among the public and individuals that goes beyond common sense,” said Ann McKee, MD, director of the university’s CTE Center The edge“They deny everything because the game is so important to them that they refuse to face the facts.”
CTE causes changes within the brain which are different from those seen in aging, Alzheimer's disease, or other brain diseases. Problem Description of CTE are memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression and suicidal thoughts. Other symptoms are similar Parkinsonismwith slowed movements, rigidity or stiffness, and tremors. CTE eventually results in progressive dementia. McKee said they are actually publishing CTE data to achieve individuals who could also be experiencing symptoms and encourage them to hunt help.
The study authors warned: “The NFL player data should not be interpreted to imply that 91.7% of all current and former NFL players have CTE because selection bias is possible in brain bank samples.”
Still, “it's very useful to have a label for the symptoms,” says McKee, who can also be chief of neuropathology on the VA Boston Healthcare System. “Even if the person doesn't have a cure, it's important for people to know that it's not their fault, they have a disease.”
Although symptomatic head injuries similar to concussions contribute to CTE risk, lesser impacts called “subconcussive blows,” which occur routinely in lots of activities and don’t cause symptoms on the time, have also been linked to CTE. The disease has been diagnosed in athletes who stopped playing sports after highschool or college. Military personnel are also at increased risk. Concussion Legacy Foundation Helpline can connect patients and families with medical recommendations, individualized peer support, and online support groups.
McKee asked former athletes, including women, to enroll current studies who’re studying tips on how to diagnose and treat CTE. She thanked those that have already participated and the families who’ve organized brain donations for research.
“I miss my hero dearly,” Jill Arrington, daughter of former NFL player Rick Arrington, said in a press release. “It pains me to know that his life was cut short playing the sport he loved most. As a brain donor, part of his legacy is in this research, and I want all former football players to know the importance of donating and enrolling in studies so that researchers at Boston University's CTE Center and their collaborators around the world can learn how to treat and one day cure the disease that has devastated our family.”