The NFL, concussions, and Alzheimer’s disease.
May 1, 2007 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
From a recent article in the New York Times:
‘In January, a neuropathologist who examined the brain of Andre Waters, the former Philadelphia Eagles player who committed suicide last fall at 44, said that repeated concussions had led to Mr Waters’s brain tissue resembling that of an 80-year-old with Alzheimer’s disease. And last month, the doctors of the former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, 34, said he was exhibiting the depression and memory lapses associated with oncoming Alzheimer’s.’
Other articles along the same lines include:
John Mackey: From NFL To Dementia
Dark Days Follow Hard-Hitting Career in NFL
A study conducted by The Center for Retired Athletes of over 2500 retired professional football players (average age 54) showed ‘that retired players with three or more concussions, compared with those with no concussions, were five times as likely to have significant memory problems.’
The message may be getting through as the NFL is now planning on screening it’s athletes for susceptibility to concussions.
Liz, a very interesting and informative post. This certainly gives us something to think about, especially anyone with youngsters playing rough and tumble sports.