The Journal of the American Medical Association published a report on Tuesday, July 25, that revealed the results of tests conducted on the brains of former football players, and the findings are staggering. 99% of the former NFL players examined, tested positive for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or otherwise known as CTE.
A neuropathologist by the name of Dr. Ann McKee conducted the research using the remains of 202 deceased football players. They were from players of all ages ranging between 23 and 89, and from players of all positions on the field. However, not all of those tested were men who played in an NFL uniform. Rather, 111 of the brains tests were run on held that distinction. And of the 111 former NFL players, 110 were diagnosed with having suffered from the degenerative disease.
Concern over the prevalence of CTE in the National Football League has grown over the past several years. After doing a lot to refute reports of the possible impact rough contact has on the brain of players throughout their careers, the league has finally begun to embrace the research and slowly sought to reform the game so as to hopefully offset the illness from overtaking the futures of the game's stars. One such measure has been the institution of tougher concussion protocol rules that more consistently result in players being sat and examined, sometimes for weeks on end, after taking a blow up top.
CTE has been known to result in memory loss, confusion, depression, dementia, and is speculated to have driven several players to commit suicide.
Source: nydailynews.com
