110 Brains - Brain Concussions and Football -

[packman]

Dr. Ann McKee, a neuropathologist, has examined the brains of 202 deceased football players. A broad survey of her findings was published on Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Of the 202 players, 111 of them played in the N.F.L. — and 110 of those were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or C.T.E., the degenerative disease believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head.

C.T.E. causes myriad symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, depression and dementia. The problems can arise years after the blows to the head have stopped.



Full Article:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/07/25/sports/football/nfl-cte.html

[HAB911]

1. How long will people continue to support the NFL?

[flamingdem]

2. Gee

Isn't it obvious that this is an incredibly violent sport?

[packman]

3. Perhaps it's time for it to go away

But- Too much money for it to disappear.

Perhaps , one misses the point that this violent sport begins - in some cases - on the early childhood lever (Peewee League), continues up the ladder to Jr. High, High school, college . The damage begins early and the question is why do we want to see it happen?

[HeartachesNhangovers]

4. As far as adult college players and pros go,

it's their body and their choice. I just wonder about the parents that still let their kids play football now that the extent of brain injury is common knowledge.

Recently I read about a study on high-altitude mountaineering, which also has a very high incidence of brain damage (related to sustained oxygen deprivation). I don't remember anybody suggesting that the mountaineers stop what they are doing - they know what they're getting into, and brain damage is just one of the risks of this sport.