A brand new Boston College examine discovered that just about 92 % of former NFL gamers examined had CTE — a discovering that ought to elevate purple flags for gamers, mother and father and followers.
The college’s CTE Middle launched its annual report throughout Tremendous Bowl week.
Of 376 former NFL gamers studied, 345 (about 91.7 %) had persistent traumatic encephalopathy, generally referred to as CTE. It’s a degenerative mind illness that may affect cognitive perform and conduct. CTE can solely be recognized after dying.
CTE has been present in athletes who’ve suffered from repeated blows to the pinnacle.
The situation has gained headlines over the past decade. Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Junior Seau, who died by suicide, was discovered to have CTE. Former NFL participant Philip Adams, who killed six individuals after which took his personal life in 2021, was additionally discovered to have the illness (h/t: New York Occasions).
Head accidents have lengthy been a problem inside sports activities, most notably within the NFL. The league has taken measures to cut back the variety of head accidents with new guidelines in addition to procedures to take away gamers with head accidents from video games.
However the guidelines and procedures are usually not excellent. Earlier this season, the NFL was blasted after Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered an obvious head damage and rapidly returned to play. He suffered a head damage later within the season and was solely lately cleared from the league’s concussion protocol.
Researcher Ann McKee stated it isn’t one or two head blow that pose the largest threat, however smaller head impacts corresponding to gamers undergo within the video games.
The findings are extra proof of the hazards of soccer. Whereas the league continues to police itself on head accidents, exterior teams have referred to as for the NFL to make the sport safer.
In April 2022, Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Steve Younger informed USA As we speak individuals ought to cease attacking soccer over CTE and as a substitute search for options. Younger’s former 49ers teammate, tight finish Greg Clark, suffered from CTE. He died by suicide in 2021.
“It’s painful to consider individuals struggling silently,’’ Younger stated. “We’ve bought to be higher. We’ve bought to determine it out. It’s on lots of people’s minds, numerous gamers minds, how you can create an setting the place individuals can share vulnerabilities and fears that in all probability wouldn’t ever be shared anyplace else.”
CTE considerations have additionally impacted youth soccer, with some mother and father stopping their youngsters from enjoying the game. McKee stated youth soccer might be made safer.
“They don’t seem to be monitoring the quantity of head impacts, or depth of head impacts, they’re turning a blind eye to that,” she stated. “There’s numerous, ‘If I don’t have a look at it, it’s not there.’”
