Another Example of Brain Damage in Football

As you know if your a regular follower of this blog that I am very interested in the study and prevention of concussions in football.   No matter what level of football you have played, I am sure there was a time when your coach said; "you got your bell rung" or you felt a little foggy.   It used to be a sign of how tough you were to be able to continue playing.  I remember Troy Aikman saying he doesn't remember throwing a touchdown pass in the NFC Championship game after suffering a concussion on the play before. 

Concussions in football have been the sports "dirty little secret" for many years.  The NFL for years completely ignored the importance of concussions or brain damage.  That time is over and now we are learning more everyday on what a life of football can do to your brain.

The latest example comes from the late Chris Henry (former RR player at West Virgina) who died last year trying to jump in the back of pick up truck driven by his finance.   He feel to the ground as the truck was moving and died from multiple head injuries.  During a recent a autopsy, Chris was found to be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) -- a form of degenerative brain damage caused by multiple hits to the head.  CTE is also know as "punch drunk syndrome" and is found in many boxers.  Basically the disease is an early onset of dementia.  The best way to describe CTE is a 40-50 year old man suffering from CTE will have the brain of an 80-90 year old man. 

CTE can be pinpointed only by autopsy, and even under regular post-mortem analysis, its effects are invisible. But using cell-staining techniques discovered and developed by Bennet Omalu, a neuropathologist who is co-director of BIRI, scientists can see the dangerous tau proteins and telltale tangles that characterize CTE. After staining, normal brain cells are blue and uncluttered under a microscope, while Henry's brain cells were discolored, clumpy and filled with threads, according to the researchers.


You know have to wonder, if some of Chris's unique behavior as an NFL player was caused by this brain damage?  Over 50 NFL players have been found to had this type of brain damage.   There are many studies going on currently on the effects of concussions.   One study currently at North Carolina is studying the effects of regular hits (non concussions) on the brain.  Some researches believe it's not just the concussions that are causing damage but the regular impact taken in practice and during games. 

I have voiced my concern here a number of times for former Michigan running back Sam McGuffie who suffered 3 concussions during his first year of college football.  After taking a year off, Sam resumes his college football career at Rice in the fall.   As one of Rice's most talented players, I expect Sam to get a lot of carries and I hope not a 4th concussion.   I think players like Sam who have had a number of concussions are at greater risk to receive more. 

As you know, I love football.  I think college football is one of the greatest games on earth.  I'm just not sure I want my son playing it.