In a new study published December 2, 2012 in the neurology journal “Brain”, researchers have examined post-mortem the brains of 85 people who had a history of mild traumatic brain injury (concussion), including 34 professional football players. The football players’ age at death ranged from 38 to 98 years with a mean of 67 years. All but one of the players’ brains showed evidence of brain disease, in particular, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a progressive deterioration of the brain long associated with professional boxers.
The study concludes:
CTE is a unique neurodegenerative condition that is associated with repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Although there are many issues that require more thorough investigation, such as how much head trauma is causative, what type, and how frequent, the age when players are most susceptible and whether some individuals are genetically more prone than others, the study clearly shows that for some athletes…there may be severe and devastating long-term consequences of repetitive brain trauma that has been traditionally considered only mild.
The Spectrum of Disease in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, Brain 2012, pp 1-22, McKee, et al.
The above news summary was provided by Edward E. Houseman, attorney for the Reading, Pennsylvania personal injury law firm of Liever, Hyman & Potter which limits their practice to medical malpractice, car, truck and motorcycle accidents, nursing home neglect, and work injuries. Serving Berks, Schuylkill and surrounding counties for over 50 years.