M. Versichelli
There are three letters that could spell trouble for the National Football League (NFL) and its athletes. Those three letters are “C-T-E”. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease found in people with a repeated history of brain trauma. Unfortunately, football players experience brain trauma and are susceptible to CTE and its harmful symptoms. Many parents and players have reconsidered if playing football is worth the health risks associated with it. A 2017 Boston University-led investigation found an alarming presence of CTE in 202 former football players of all levels.
Of the 202 players examined in the study, CTE was diagnosed in 177 (87%) of them. Furthermore, 110 of the 111 (99%) former NFL players were diagnosed with CTE, showing a link between prolonged time playing football and the presence of CTE. Researchers found two different levels of CTE in players – mild and severe. There were 84 (76%) former NFL players that were detected with severe CTE. These athletes suffered from various conditions, including behavioral or mood maladies (89%), cognitive deficiencies (95%), and dementia (85%). The symptoms of severe CTE show the ramifications of playing football for many years. Former and current football players may argue that they do not experience these symptoms and therefore have no traces of CTE, however, the disease can only be diagnosed through autopsies, making the players’ claims unfounded. Playing football for many years is detrimental to brain health.
The repeated brain trauma that a football player undergoes is harmful to his own brain health and may result in CTE. Most football players (87%) were diagnosed with CTE. If athletes were to take a deeper look into the data, some might choose to stop playing football. Recently, an NFL linebacker did just that. Chris Borland, an NFL linebacker for San Francisco, decided to retire from football after playing for one season (2015). Borland was one of the league’s best defensive rookies. When asked why he retired, Borland cited concerns about the long-term effects of repetitive brain trauma. Ultimately, will successful football players follow Borland’s lead and prioritize health over income? That choice will have massive implications on the future of football.
*Mez J et al., Journal of the American Medical Association, 2017