NIH Neuroscientists: Junior Seau Had Brain Disease Caused By Hits To the Head 240
McGruber writes "ABC News/ESPN broke the story that a team of scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) analyzed the brain tissue of renowned NFL linebacker Junior Seau and have concluded that the football player suffered a debilitating brain disease likely caused by two decades worth of hits to the head. From the article: 'In May 2012, Seau, 43 — football's monster in the middle, a perennial all-star and defensive icon in the 1990s whose passionate hits made him a dominant figure in the NFL — shot himself in the chest at his home in Oceanside, Calif., leaving behind four children and many unanswered questions.'
As Slashdot earlier reported, more than 30 NFL players have in recent years been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition once known as 'punch drunk' because it affected boxers who had taken multiple blows to the head."
Re:Go figure. (Score:5, Informative)
Well, I hope your son never plays soccer beyond the Recreational level. Part of the game is heading the ball, which can travel quite fast. It may be a very light ball compared to other sports, but remember your physics lessons: it doesn't matter what it weighs if it's moving fast enough. Pro soccer players (the linked article is about a pro sport, yeah?) often have brain damage from taking hundreds of shots to the noggin from a ball traveling 60+ mph; and that's the low end of a kick, there are players who can kick for 80+ mph, and a few who claim 90+ mph.
I think you're suffering from a condition called "over-protective parent disorder." ALL sports have risk involved. Some more than others, yes, but the two examples you give are also dangerous. ACL/MCL tears and ankle problems (along with the above example) are major parts of soccer. Swimming? Drowning doesn't seem to be very fun- and yes, it does happen.
Re:Concusion detection tech (Score:5, Informative)
I play Rugby. I've torn both ACLs. I've had numerous other injuries. But when you knock heads with someone there are
In a similar manner to how the people with congenital insensitivity to pain [wikipedia.org] end up with more damage to their body because they have no pain feedback. Your brain has no internal pain receptors. It's why they can perform awake open brain surgeries. But you do have an extensive network of pain nerves all over your skull. By mitigating the pain the rest of the skull feels (with helmets) you're preventing the body from knowing when it is starting to damage the brain.
Re:didn't shoot himself in the head? (Score:3, Informative)
Could be. According to Wikipedia, "Seau's death recalled the 2011 suicide of former NFL player Dave Duerson, who shot himself in the chest and left a suicide note requesting that his brain be studied for brain trauma.[31][32]" That could be where he got the idea. Seau didn't leave a note, though.
Re:Concusion detection tech (Score:5, Informative)
You're joking, right?
Concussion in Rugby is hidden epidemic [sciencedaily.com]
Concerns rise over rugby concussion risk [bbc.co.uk]
Concern at lack of rugby head injury reporting [bbc.co.uk]
Rugby players urged to donate their brains to help head-injury research [scotsman.com]
The saddest part is your bullshit got modded as interesting and insightful.
Re:Concusion detection tech (Score:5, Informative)
Yep. Just like you see all the time in Rugby... except you don't. Rugby Injuries: A Review of Concepts and Current Literature [kevinkaplanmd.com]. If you count actual injuries per 1000 hours of playing time professional Rugby has fewer injuries than the NFL.
And given a choice between a broken bone and permanent brain damage, I'll take the broken bone.
Re:Concusion detection tech (Score:2, Informative)
Thank you for what? Spreading bullshit? Concussions are a major issue in Rugby.
Re:Concusion detection tech (Score:5, Informative)
It's less, but not by much.
11.3% for high school rugby [nih.gov]
15.3% for high school football [k12.ia.us]
Professional injuries don't bother me nearly as much as the amount of injuries that occur in high school and even earlier. I don't see how you could reasonable argue that either concussion rate is acceptable at all, and the uncertainties in these studies actually overlap.
Re:Concusion detection tech (Score:5, Informative)
11.3 concussions per 100 player-seasons.
15.3% players sustained concussions per season.
These numbers are not comparable.