New Study Shows 99% Brain Disease Rate For Football Players

A recent article published in JAMA has found that 99% of former football players were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This disease is caused by repeated blows to the head. Autopsies of 202 football players, including those who did not play beyond the high school and college level, were conducted. The numbers showing evidence of CTE were staggering:

• 110 out of 111 NFL players
• 48 out of 53 college players
• 3 out of 14 high school players

It is no secret football players suffer repeated blows to the head. A concussion is caused by a jolt, bump or blow to the head that causes the brain to twist or bounce around in the skull. This type of injury causes stretching, damage and chemical changes in brain cells.

For high school athletes, the Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation that was enacted July 1, 2014 with the following safety laws for child concussion injuries:

• Any league or intramural coach that observes a student athlete with concussion symptoms after witnessing a blow to the head shall immediately remove that student from play for proper evaluation.
• The student athlete must have written consent or approval from a qualified healthcare provider to return to play.
• The student cannot participate in full practice or games until written clearance is granted by a healthcare provider who is following his/her case.
• Any concussion injury must be reported to the State Board of Education.

If your child was involved in a sports head injury and you question whether proper concussion protocol was followed, call our office. Concussions are considered traumatic brain injuries. Our team of medical and legal professionals will begin an immediate investigation into your child’s injury.