http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/26/duerson.brain.exam/
Concussions are an accepted part of many contact sports. Their symptoms are often quiet and usually ignored. It has only recently come to light the long-term damage that can occur from repeated concussions and hits to the head. The human brain is comprised of delicate tissue that, when forcefully and repeatedly slammed against a hard surface (such as the skull), can become injured. The brain is very resilient, but for those whose brains experience years of such repetitive contact, long term damage and progressive deterioration can occur.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (defined as disease of the brain caused by repeated traumatic events) has for many years been known to occur in fighters. The Parkinsonianism seen in Muhammad Ali is often considered to be related to his boxing career. In 2007 Chris Benoit, a well known professional wrestler, murdered his wife and child and took his own life. Later analysis of his brain showed CTE (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905224343.htm).
Stories of increased dementia and erratic behavior have been reported in former professional football, hockey, and rugby players. The Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy is conducting a major analysis of the brains of deceased athletes and has had over 200 athletes commit to donating their brains for future study. Former NFL player Dave Duerson committed suicide on February 17, 2011 after months of language change and concerning behavior that he suspected was related to possible encephalopathy. He elected to take his life by a gunshot to the chest to preserve his brain for testing for the disease.
The Boston University studies help researchers better understand the incidence of CTE, but they do not provide ways to prevent or cure it. As awareness of CTE and other sports related brain injuries (such as concussions, post-concussive syndrome, and mild traumatic brain injury, among others) increases, so must community, social and parental response to it. Programs have been developed to provide pre and post concussive analysis for students and professional athletes. One such program used at the neurological institute at my hospital is called ImPACT ( http://www.impacttest.com/ ). According to their website, “ImPACT is a 20-minute test that has become a standard tool used in comprehensive clinical management of concussions for athletes of all ages.” It is a testing program to give baseline neurological/neuropsychological measurements to determine the level of injury exhibited by an athlete after a blow to the head. It is quickly and easily administered by an “athletic trainer, school nurse, athletic director, team coach, team doctor, etc" and can help to shed light on an injury that may otherwise go undetected.
Programs such as ImPACT can help coaches and athletes understand the severity of an injury and help physicians determine appropriate recovery. Parents can encourage these programs in their children’s schools and educate coaches about the severity of concussion. Concussions can no longer be accepted as a normal part of sports. Their effects, though they may not be immediately apparent, are long lasting, and can be devastating.
