As an avid sports fan, I have to admit that I love watching the NFL. The thrill of cheering on your favorite team and seeing your favorite players develop into superstars is one of the greatest feelings ever! However, there is a growing concern for the well-being and future of many athletes. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. These injuries create microscopic bleeding and protein deposits called tangles that damage the structural integrity and function of the brain. The symptoms of CTE often occur well after a person has stopped playing. Symptoms can include memory loss, impulsive behavior, anxiety, depression, executive dysfunction, and suicidal thoughts. Symptoms often get more severe as the disease progresses and the frightening part is that there is no way to confirm or diagnose CTE until after death.
The topic of CTE came into my mind while I was watching the Miami Dolphins play against the Buffalo Bills on September 12, 2024. Near the end of the game, the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa, had a scary collision where he displayed an abnormal posturing position after the impact. Tua left the game diagnosed with a concussion and has been on the injured reserve ever since. This was not the first time that this had happened to Tua and many people in the media urged him to retire. Many reports say that Tua Tagovailoa does not want to quit, but the NFL and the league's chief medical officer, Allen Sills MD FACS, have the final word. Right now, there is still no clear direction to where Tua is headed.
The case of Tua Tagovailoa is a more extreme and clear example of repetitive head trauma that was nationally televised. It is crucial to shed light on all the NFL players and other athletes competing in high-contact sports. Many years of playing the sport, practicing, and competing at different levels, exposes repetitive head trauma, which could lead to adverse consequences for the athletes. There is still much research required for this disease, such as looking for a definitive way to diagnose CTE while a person is still alive, or looking at technology that could reduce the impact of high-contact sports. It is necessary to begin this discussion on high-contact sports and the long-term health of athletes. What are your thoughts? Should we place harsher regulations on contact sports?
Sources:
Els, L. C. (2024, March 28). What is CTE? Understanding chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-is-cte-understanding-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy
Seifert, K. (2024, October 4). NFL will not have role in Tua Tagovailoa’s potential return - ESPN. ESPN.com. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41607477/nfl-not-role-tua-tagovailoa-potential-return
Stern, R. A., Riley, D. O., Daneshvar, D. H., Nowinski, C. J., Cantu, R. C., & McKee, A. C. (2011). Long‐term consequences of repetitive brain trauma: chronic traumatic encephalopathy. PM&R, 3(10S2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2011.08.008
Els, L
Els, L
It’s so true that the excitement of watching football comes with a responsibility to think about the long-term health risks athletes face. CTE is a terrifying reality for many players, and Tua’s case is a painful reminder of the damage repetitive head trauma can cause. It’s especially concerning that CTE symptoms often appear years after players retire, affecting not only their quality of life but also their families.
ReplyDeleteI agree that more research is critical, especially for early diagnosis and better protective equipment. It’s a challenging balance between maintaining the essence of high-contact sports and safeguarding player health.
The link between CTE and violent behavior in cases like Junior Seau, Jovan Belcher, Philip Adams and Aaron Hernandez underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations in the NFL. These tragic examples highlight how repeated head injuries can lead to significant changes in mood and impulse control, affecting not only the athletes but also their families and communities.
To address this issue, the NFL should implement stricter measures, such as mandatory concussion protocols, limitations on contact practices, enhanced protective equipment, and improved mental health support. By prioritizing player safety and acknowledging the connection between CTE and aggressive behavior, the league can foster a culture of responsibility, helping to protect athletes from the long-term consequences of head trauma and ensuring the integrity of the game.
Sullivan, B. (2024, September 23). A third of former NFL players surveyed believe they have CTE, researchers find. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/09/23/nx-s1-5121019/nfl-players-cte-survey
Smay, I. (2019). CTE linked with violence in many professional athletes. Krem.com. https://www.krem.com/article/news/health/many-athletes-with-health-legal-issues-thought-to-or-confirmed-to-have-cte/293-de3f7df5-43cb-4499-baa4-026c1465724d
I really enjoyed your conversation on CTE, which to me is such a danger that we often overlook for the sake of enjoyment. I grew up in New England and have always been a Patriots fan, and I remember when Aaron Hernandez started making the news, going from a Superbowl winning champion to a criminal. I also remember all the conversations around me about why he would do such pointless crimes when he seemed to have everything that anyone could have wanted. Last year, I watched a pretty compelling documentary on it on Netflix called Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, which I thought was super interesting. According to Bracken, 2017, from Boston University, where his brain was studied after he had died, highlights how he had stage 3 CTE, which is almost as advanced as you can get and is normally seen in much older people. The documentary I watched, however, brought up an interesting conversation where the families of the victims were almost disappointed when this was discovered, because they felt like it was an excuse for his actions.
ReplyDeleteEither way, whether we blame the disease for actions or the person, I don't think that this condition is worth the risk. It is frustrating that from a young age people are participating in a sport without knowing the true risks of CTE, and that a lot of people don't care because they don't understand how awful the disease is. I also find it interesting that even though they now have these new, more protective Guardian Caps that seem to protect the brain better, there are still a lot of athletes who will not wear them.
Bracken, T. (2017, November 9). Aaron Hernandez’s CTE Worst Seen in a Young Person. Boston University. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2017/aaron-hernandez-cte-worst-seen-in-young-person/