Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy prominence in former NFL Players
Aaron Hernandez. Mike Webster. Junior Seau. Justin Strzelczyk. Terry Long. Andre Waters. Those are just six of 110 names of former NFL athletes who have died as of July 2017, as a result of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The terrifying part of CTE? An individual cannot be diagnosed with the disease until after they are already dead.
“Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma (often athletes), including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head that do not cause symptoms. CTE has been known to affect boxers since the 1920’s, when it was initially termed punch-drunk syndrome or dementia pugilistica” — Boston University Research: CTE Center
So what causes Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy? There is evidence coming to light that suggests individuals who have suffered repeated concussions or TBIs (traumatic brain injuries), or have experienced multiple blows to the head without loss of consciousness are at higher risk of developing CTE than individuals who have not experienced repeated brain injuries. This occurs most frequently in professional athletes such as NFL and NHL players, boxers and combat veterans.
The only way CTE can be officially diagnosed is after death by conducting a postmortem neuropathological analysis. There is currently no cure for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, but doctor’s are able to identify CTE based on a variety of symptoms.
The symptoms of CTE consist of memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, Parkinson-like symptoms and eventually progressive dementia. (Boston University Research: CTE Center). These symptoms begin years or sometimes decades after an individual’s last brain trauma or after the end of active athletic participation.
Researchers believe CTE is related to the buildup of an abnormal form of a protein called tau in the brain. This buildup, which is also an Alzheimer’s hallmark, leads to brain cell death. Deposits of a protein called beta-amyloid that are another Alzheimer’s hallmark are found in some individuals with CTE, but are not common. — alz.org
Stage one is most commonly marked by headaches and loss of attention and concentration. Some individuals experience short-term memory problems, depression, aggressive tendencies, intense anger and executive function issues (ctesociety.org).
Stage two consists of depression, moods swings, headaches, and short-term memory loss increases. In fact, short term memory loss is at the top of the list of most frequently experienced symptoms in the second stage of CTE. A small percentage of people experience executive dysfunction, impulsiveness, suicidal thoughts and language challenges (ctesociety.org).
Stage three consists off increasingly heightened memory loss, higher executive dysfunction, heavy explosiveness, more severe attention and concentration issues, deeper depression, more severe mood swings, visuospatial difficulties and deeper aggression. Levels of apathy also appear in this stage, and 75 percent of individuals with stage three CTE who were studied were considered cognitively impaired (ctesociety.org).
Stage four is the final stage of CTE and is marked by severe cognition problems and memory loss, with many people having progressed to full-blown dementia. Symptoms in this stage include profound loss of attention and concentration, paranoia, depression, issues walking and visuospatial difficulties. Stage four CTE patients also exhibit executive dysfunction, language difficulties, explosiveness and aggression. Parkinson’s also affects physical movement for some individuals (ctesociety.org).
Physical evidence connecting football and CTE was first discovered by Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-born forensic neuropathologist who performed an autopsy on Mike Webster, the Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers. His story was made into the movie “Concussion,” which has heightened awareness of CTE.
In the true story, the 2015 sports drama movie Concussion, Will Smith portrayed Dr. Bennett Omalu, and Omalu’s findings brought the issue of brain damage in retired NFL players to the forefront in order to expose how prominent CTE is in the National Football League.
“We’re not focused on a movie, we’re focused on continuing to make progress,we have incredible progress that has been made, not only in rule changes, but also in what we saw today with materials and protection that will prevent these injuries from happening. From protocols that we implemented, research we are doing, coaching changes we have had, in taking certain techniques out of the game. What you are seeing is an incredible amount of progress and real impact.” — Roger Goodell
As of July 2017, there were 111 brains of former NFL players tested by researchers, and 110 of them showed prominent signs of CTE. Six of those NFL athletes committed suicide due to the immense about of suffering they were dealing with as a result of CTE- Terry Long, Andre Waters, Shane Dronett, David Russell Duerson, Ray Easterling and Junior Seau.
The biggest question surrounding CTE is, if 99 percent of tested brains of NFL players reveal CTE; how is the NFL continually denying any connection between the repetitive hits to the head in professional football and the continual skyrocketing CTE diagnoses in former NFL athletes?
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and other NFL employees have continued to bury the results of the research they conducted, and make false claims about conducting continuous research when they in fact are not.
The New York Times published an expose on the NFL’s flawed concussion research in March of 2016. The study shed light on how the National Football League was omitted facts in the research they conducted from 1996–2001.
For the last 13 years, the N.F.L. has stood by the research, which, the papers stated, was based on a full accounting of all concussions diagnosed by team physicians from 1996 through 2001. But confidential data obtained by The Times shows that more than 100 diagnosed concussions were omitted from the studies — including some severe injuries to stars like quarterbacks Steve Young and Troy Aikman. The committee then calculated the rates of concussions using the incomplete data, making them appear less frequent than they actually were. — The New York Times
The Times questioned the NFL about the missing data and the league’s only response was that not all organizations were required to reveal all their information, and that most clubs didn’t. In the 2013, the NFL agreed to a $765 million settlement of a lawsuit in which retired players accused league officials of covering up the risks of concussions. Some players have appealed the settlement, asking for an examination of the committee’s concussion research (New York Times).
Despite the league’s efforts to make the Chronic Encephalopathy data they collected appear minimal, newspapers and other media outlets are only just beginning to uncover the deeper issue and see how prominent the disease is in former NFL players, and how fatal it can be.
Furthermore, as the years progress and the statistics and fatalities continue to skyrocket for CTE cases in former NFL players, researchers are avidly seeking ways to develop a treatment for the disease, as well as find a way to diagnose it before death so that lives can be saved.
