New Study Warns of Long-Term Brain Dangers in Contact Sports
Alarming new research reveals the long-term dangers of repeated head impacts in sports. Young athletes risk chronic brain inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases like CTE, affecting their cognitive and motor skills. The study, led by Dr. Jane Thompson, underscores the urgent need to reduce head impacts at all levels of sports.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, often found in young people playing sports like American football, soccer, and boxing. The study found that multiple head injuries can reactivate inflammation, preventing the brain from fully recovering and leading to chronic inflammation.
Researchers discovered that all former sport athletes had more brain damage, stronger inflammation, and fewer neurons than those without a history of head trauma. The longer the athletes had played, the more inflammatory microglia they had in their brains. This inflammation can cause symptoms similar to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, including cognitive and motor impairments, and changes in behavior and personality.
The study also found a strong correlation between repeated brain trauma and CTE in former professional NFL players. The risk increases with the number of concussions sustained during their career. Long-term exposure to head impacts is associated with increased CTE prevalence. However, tau proteins, thought to be a factor in CTE, cannot be diagnosed while alive.
The research team urges a reduction in head impacts in all levels of sports, including youth, school, and college teams. Young athletes should avoid head and frontal impacts and take breaks after head injuries to allow their brains to recover. Further research is needed to develop diagnostic tools and treatments for CTE.
