The Terrible CTE Death Future Toll of Youth Sports Is Shocking
A debilitating, often elusive brain disorder, CTE, is now seen as beginning in earlier life—youth sports and it’s deadly.
Parents are advised to enroll their kids in sports programs to provide socialization, understanding of rules, group cohesion, needed exercise, and even benefits on their resumes when they apply to college. Government advisories had established hoped-for gains in sports activities for children would increase to over 63% before the year 2030. However, the pandemic has changed children’s rates of play with an interesting twist: more girls are playing than boys now, with boys showing declines.
The one thing few are considering is being brought to the fore, and it’s the incipient, deadly damage that can develop into CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). New research on this brain disorder is delving into the genesis of its development and sending warning signs flashing for all to see. Participants in the study ranged from 17 to 98 years old.
The study distinguishes four stages and the symptoms that would be characteristic of each stage. Stage 1 had headaches and difficulty focusing and paying attention. Depression, impulsive behavior, and short-term memory loss were characteristics of stage 2. Cognitive impairment and issues with executive functions like planning and…
