New Study Finds Brain Damage in Living Ex-NFL Players

[Delhommey]

Brain scans performed on five former NFL players revealed images of the protein that causes football-related brain damage — the first time researchers have identified signs of the crippling disease in living players.

Researchers who conducted the

pilot study at UCLA

described the findings as a significant step toward being able to diagnose the disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, in living patients.

“I’ve been saying that identifying CTE in a living person is the Holy Grail for this disease and for us to be able make advances in treatment,” said Dr. Julian Bailes, a Chicago neurosurgeon and one of the study’s co-authors. “It’s not definitive and there’s a lot we still need to discover to help these people, but it’s very compelling. It’s a new discovery.”

Dozens of former players — including 34 who played in the NFL — have been diagnosed with CTE, a neurodegenerative disease linked to dementia, memory loss and depression. The disease, which researchers say is triggered by repeated head trauma, can be confirmed only by examining the brain after death. CTE was discovered earlier this month in the brain of former Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide last May by shooting himself in the chest.

http://www.pbs.org/w...ex-nfl-players/

[Hawk]

not sure how anyone can be surprised about this!

[Darth Biscuit]

Anyone that gets continuous blows to the head... football players, boxers, MMA fighters, race car drivers, etc. is pretty much gonna have some sort of cumulative brain injury.

Unless they can come up with some sort of helmet/protection to absorb the impacts.

[Delhommey]

I'm not sure it's surprise as much as it's good that they may finally be able to diagnose the problem.

[Luuuuuuuuuuke59]

This is akin to a new study that finds sexually transmitted disease in living prostitutes... it is a hazard of the job.

[Darth Biscuit]

I'm not sure it's surprise as much as it's good that they may finally be able to diagnose the problem.

True... and I hope they find ways to mitigate it... because as long as guys are getting paid eleventy billion dollars to play these sports, they're gonna keep doing it.

I'd get out there and bash my head if it meant my family was going to be financially secure for generations.

[Hawk]

This is akin to a new study that finds sexually transmitted disease in living prostitutes... it is a hazard of the job.

haha...was just going to write the same thing

more importantly than diagnose or anything like that, I think it goes more to opening the door for lawsuits in the future. at least waivers!!! do pro athletes sign waivers anymore?!

[Hawk]

I'd get out there and bash my head if it meant my family was going to be financially secure for generations.

you've been doing it for years for free, no? just seems that way?!!!!

[Darth Biscuit]

you've been doing it for years for free, no? just seems that way?!!!!

Matter of fact I'm bashing it on my desk right now reading about Canada putting the wrong maple leaf picture on the new $20 bill.

[Hawk]

maple tree has thousands of leaves...who says they all look the same!!!!

[Darth Biscuit]

maple tree has thousands of leaves...who says they all look the same!!!!

There are different species of maples Moose boy.

[Hawk]

thanks...that was my point....the leaves all look different!!!!

stop banging your head, take your meds and try to keep up.....if not....lovely ladies is always looking for new threads!! look for some pics of the new Wendy's restaurant chick....and no, not fat Wendy herself

[Brooklyn Bully]

If only they'd try and start new rules to lower the amount of head blows! We fans won't bitch at it at all!

[Chimera]

If only they'd try and start new rules to lower the amount of head blows! We fans won't bitch at it at all!

Betcha 100 bux that new rules will be subjective and refs will throw the flag based on whether a player jumps right up or not, or whether the offending player has a bad reputation.