Archive for January, 2018
By Paul Stone On January 29th, 2018
Two bills were proposed in state legislatures this week that would ban tackle football in youth football organizations before the age of 12, citing concerns about the risks for long-term brain trauma and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The bill proposed in Illinois is named the “Dave Duerson Act to Prevent CTE” after the former Chicago Bears…
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By Paul Stone On January 25th, 2018
Donated brains have become an integral part of research into both chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the vast majority of brains donated to brain banks have come from male athletes and soldiers. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to correct this discrepancy with a collaboration between its…
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By Paul Stone On January 23rd, 2018
The Super Bowl is still more than two weeks away, yet the NFL is already dealing with a concussion drama that could have significant effects on the big game. Rob Gronkowski, one of the New England Patriots’ star players is in the league’s concussion protocol after suffering a head injury during the AFC championship game…
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By jasonmaddox On January 23rd, 2018
A newly released study by researchers at Boston University linked repetitive hits to the head rather than concussions to the onset of CTE. The study found the link between head impact and TBI, independent of concussion. For the research team, the findings explained why approximately 20% of athletes with CTE were never diagnosed with a concussion.
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By Paul Stone On January 19th, 2018
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a permanent neurodegenerative brain disease brought on by repeated head trauma. Often, people interpret this to mean CTE is caused by concussions, however, a recent study shows concussions don’t necessarily have to be a part of the equation. “The concussion is really irrelevant for triggering CTE,” Dr. Lee Goldstein, an…
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By Paul Stone On January 16th, 2018
Until the telltale signs of tau protein buildup in the brain were discovered a few years ago, chronic traumatic encephalopathy was confused with several degenerative brain conditions, like Alzheimer’s and ALS (better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Now, researchers at Western University say in the latest issue of the journal Neurology that they’ve discovered that…
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By Paul Stone On January 12th, 2018
Last weekend, the NBA saw a dramatic brain injury in a game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Golden State Warriors. As Blake Griffin was driving towards the goal during the first quarter, he was elbowed in the forehead. The hit immediately made Griffin fall to the floor and grab his head before his…
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By Paul Stone On January 10th, 2018
Throughout his nearly 20 years in the NFL, Brett Favre suffered a number of injuries. However, few of those injuries have had anywhere near the lasting impact of Favre’s concussions. He can’t even guess exactly how many brain injuries he had before his career-ending concussion in 2010. Now, Favre is exploring his own history with…
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By Paul Stone On January 8th, 2018
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a dangerous neurodegenerative disease linked with repeated concussions or brain trauma. It causes severe depression, memory loss, behavioral issues, and problems with extreme anger. Chances are you’ve heard of it being found in an increasing number of former football players. CTE has become almost exclusively linked to football, though it…
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By Paul Stone On January 5th, 2018
When Dallas Cowboy’s pass rusher David Irving experienced a concussion earlier this year, he probably didn’t expect to become a standout case for how brain injuries are mismanaged in both football and the larger medical community. But, after hiding his symptoms and getting into a car wreck shortly afterward, he has become just that. Irving…
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