Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (C.T.E.), Football, and Youth
The brain is the most complex organ of the human body. It controls every aspect of the body, including but not limited to body movements, behavior, and perceptions. More importantly, the brain defines a person.
The brain is protected by the skull, the meninges, along with cerebrospinal fluid. The brain is not designed to withstand a hit of 1600 pounds — the average tackling force of an NFL defensive back.
CTE, discovered by Bennet Omalu in 2009, is a “degenerative brain disease associated with repeated brain trauma,” commonly found in football and hockey players. Tau lesions form and are consequently followed by brain cell death. At this time, there is no way to diagnose C.T.E. prior to decease.
In the early stages, loved ones note a change in behavior, perception, and mood. The later stages are much worse. One loses their ability to judge, organize, plan, and experiences depression. Eventually, CTE can affect a person’s ability to live. The brain stops functioning to its prior capability due to brain cell death.
To defend themselves from CTE and other brain injuries, some professional athletes, such a San Francisco’s Chris Borland, choose early retirement. He tells, “I just honestly want to do what’s best for my health. From what I’ve researched and what I’ve experience, I don’t think it’s worth the risk.”
The NFL has changed the rules to help combat concussions and serious brain injuries. They are penalizing players for hits and have moved up the kickoff line. Unfortunately, the penalty has done little to cease late hits or hits to the head. For example, those who watched the Steelers-Bengals Wild Card game saw the hit Giovani Bernard took from Ryan Shazier that knocked him out. The hit warranted a personal foul with a 15-yard penalty, but there is nothing any one can do to repair the brain cells he lost from the hit.
As an advocate against these traumatic blows to the head, Borland announces that he does not want to have a career that is detrimental to his health and that those who choose to play should be informed on the risks. Unfortunately, a child does not have the freedom of consent and most of them lack the knowledge and comprehension surrounding the injury.
Wanting to mimic the pros and dream big, more and more children are playing football and the question is, “What is going to happen to their brain in 5/10/15 years?”
At this point, the research at the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) is leading the cause. More and more athletes are giving their brains to CSTE for research purposes to help aid the new generation of football players and prevent irreparable damage.
Bennet Omalu’s stance on the issue can be found in his article “Don’t Let Kids Play Football” where he concludes his call to action with “We have a legal age for drinking alcohol; for joining the military; for voting; for smoking; for driving; and for consenting to have sex. We must have the same when it comes to protecting the organ that defines who we are as human beings.”
