CTE

[westender]

Brain of a 65 year old. Story about Washington State QB who killed himself.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/parents-tyler-hilinski-cte-committed-suicide-124846146.html

 

[Robowe]

1st CTE case in NCAA was settled a few days ago (June 15) ...

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ncaa-settles-wife-deceased-texas-player-cte-lawsuit-170435518.html

The case of Ploetz v. NCAA was notable because it was the first of many concussion-related lawsuits against the NCAA from former college football players to reach this stage of the legal process with presentments in front of a jury. According to the Washington Post, legal observers thought the case “had the potential to set (legal) precedent and possibly lead to significant changes to football at the college level.”

 

[NCHawker]

Very sad.

I wonder why it is not more widespread. So many people bang heads in football...

There has to be another factor involved - some kind of activating x factor.

 

[Fryowa]

Very sad.

I wonder why it is not more widespread. So many people bang heads in football...

There has to be another factor involved - some kind of activating x factor.

It’s got to be like cancer or anything else, some people are more susceptible than others but the activity in question just raises the risks.

Say you had 3 people, each with a 15%, 25% and 65% susceptibility to dementia. Playing football now takes those percentages to, call it 40%, 50% and 90%.

Guys like Tyler Sash, Junior Seau, Bernie Kosar, etc just happen to be in the latter group. Maybe someday there will be a genetic test to find out where you land before you play.

 

[Fryowa]

Very sad.

I wonder why it is not more widespread. So many people bang heads in football...

There has to be another factor involved - some kind of activating x factor.

Also, the only ones you hear about are the extreme cases like guys who commit suicide or murder people, or the ones who come out publicly (which isn't the manly thing to do).

Who's to say that Michael Strahan or Terry Bradshaw don't forget their kid's names or where they live, but they don't tell anyone?

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Also, the only ones you hear about are the extreme cases like guys who commit suicide or murder people, or the ones who come out publicly (which isn't the manly thing to do).

Who's to say that Michael Strahan or Terry Bradshaw don't forget their kid's names or where they live, but they don't tell anyone?

Those guys appear on live TV shows so it would be hard to cover that kind of thing up over time. But football players in general, point well taken.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

Also, the only ones you hear about are the extreme cases like guys who commit suicide or murder people, or the ones who come out publicly (which isn't the manly thing to do).

Who's to say that Michael Strahan or Terry Bradshaw don't forget their kid's names or where they live, but they don't tell anyone?

That kid from Minnesota, Ben Utecht? He's semi-documenting things, and has been featured a couple times on BTN.

The next question is, can equipment, technique, etc., minimize/reduce/eliminate the issue?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Very sad.

I wonder why it is not more widespread. So many people bang heads in football...

There has to be another factor involved - some kind of activating x factor.

I agree. Is there something in these individuals that is not at all related to head contact? There seems to be an acute onset of depression. Is it something more biological. Weird that they stated he was in stage I but had the effects or brain of a 65 yr old man. Really, what are later stages like then? That seems pretty substantial to me for only being stage I.

This seemed to come on so fast this case. I really wonder if it is something more biological and if the same incidence is happening in the general population who never get tested. So much has to be learned still. This guy played one of the most protected positions in the game. As you state, you would think this would be much more widespread.

 

[bitmap]

Very sad.

I wonder why it is not more widespread. So many people bang heads in football...

There has to be another factor involved - some kind of activating x factor.

My guess would be anabolic steroids. When abused they cause quite a bit of damage. I know to many people that played before steroid usage became widespread. They have trouble with their knees, not their brains.

 

[AreWeThereYet]

It’s got to be like cancer or anything else, some people are more susceptible than others but the activity in question just raises the risks.

Say you had 3 people, each with a 15%, 25% and 65% susceptibility to dementia. Playing football now takes those percentages to, call it 40%, 50% and 90%.

Guys like Tyler Sash, Junior Seau, Bernie Kosar, etc just happen to be in the latter group. Maybe someday there will be a genetic test to find out where you land before you play.

The tie in between CTE and chronic inflammation seems to be the clearest line of inquiry on this. Normal swelling is part of the immune response and healing process, but when inflammation becomes chronic it can turn the immune system against the bodies own tissues. So damage may not only be due to direct injury, but also indirect tissue destruction, and may even continue long after direct injury caused the inflammatory response in the first place.