Aubagio: Side effects, use for MS, cost, and more
HMS Study Suggests One-Third Of Former NFL Players Believe They Have CTE
A Harvard Medical School study of 2,000 former NFL players found that 34 percent of those surveyed believe they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disorder caused by repeated head injuries.
The study also said approximately 25 percent of surveyed players who believed they had CTE experienced suicidal ideation.
Published in JAMA Neurology on Sept. 23, the study was a collaboration between scientists at HMS, Harvard School of Public Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital.
"We did this study because there's a tremendous amount of controversy about how common CTE is," said Aaron L. Baggish, an HMS associate professor of medicine at MGH and a professor of medicine at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
With current scientific techniques, CTE can only be formally diagnosed post-mortem through a physical examination of the brain during autopsy.
A main focus of the study was to understand what CTE "means to former professional football players," Baggish said.
"Perceptions of either being healthy or unhealthy are probably as important as whether those perceptions are reality or not," he said.
The study's director of epidemiological research initiatives, Rachel Grashow, said players who believed they had CTE reported having medical conditions relating to mental health — including low testosterone, depression, and mood instability — at a much higher rate than those who did not.
"People really don't know that there are a lot of common conditions, whether you played football or not, that cause cognitive problems," she said. "I think the difference is that for players, they can point to this thing, right? This condition that they don't know if they have."
According to HMS Chief of Brain Injury Rehabilitation Daniel H. Daneshvar, a co-author on the study, future research on CTE should focus on finding a method of diagnosing patients during their lifetime.
"Once we are able to determine with a better degree of accuracy who has CTE and who doesn't, then we can determine the extent to which these treatable factors are causing the specific problems athletes are reporting versus contributing to those problems," he added.
While the possibility of having CTE is often met with hopelessness, athletes who may be suffering from the condition can improve their thinking, behavior, and mood with clinical treatment, Daneshvar said.
"It's that clinical experience that we have that helped drive the rationale behind this study to identify just how frequent these treatable factors exist amongst NFL players," he said.
Chris J. Nowinski '00 — co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation and a former member of the Harvard football team, who was not involved in the research — praised the study for its investigation of an important but understudied condition.
"CTE is a disease that was ignored for a long time, and so we don't know enough about it," he said. "All CTE research is very important to fill in our knowledge gaps that have helped us learn how to diagnose it in living people and learn how to treat it."
Understanding CTE: Insights From A Harvard Study On Former NFL Players
Harvard University surveyed 1,980 former NFL players who played between 1960 and 2020
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has become a significant concern in the world of sports, particularly in football. A recent study conducted by Harvard University surveyed 1,980 former NFL players who played between 1960 and 2020, revealing alarming insights into the mental health challenges faced by these athletes.
The Study's FindingsAccording to the findings, approximately one-third of the surveyed players believe they are living with CTE. This translates to 681 players who reported concerns about developing this brain disease. The study also highlighted that over 230 players experienced suicidal thoughts, while 176 reported diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.
Even after accounting for various predictors of suicidal ideation, the data indicated that retired players who suspected they had CTE were twice as likely to report frequent suicidal thoughts or self-harm. Currently, the only definitive method to diagnose CTE is through a post-mortem examination of the brain, complicating the ability to assess symptoms in living players.
The Importance of Early IdentificationRachel Grashow, a neuroscientist at Harvard and the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of identifying and treating symptoms before players attribute them to CTE. This misattribution can lead to depression and self-harm. Grashow stated in a news release, "Many conditions common to former NFL players, such as sleep apnea, low testosterone, high blood pressure, and chronic pain, can cause problems with thinking, memory, and concentration." Identifying these treatable conditions is crucial in mitigating the mental health risks associated with the belief of having CTE.
Real-Life ImplicationsThe impact of CTE is not merely theoretical. More than 300 former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE posthumously, many of whom exhibited symptoms like memory loss and mood swings. A poignant example is Junior Seau, a Hall of Fame linebacker who tragically took his own life in 2012. Following his death, his brain was examined, and he was diagnosed with CTE. Seau had previously voiced concerns about player safety and the long-term effects of football on mental health.
Understanding the Complex Relationship Between CTE and Mental HealthWhile the correlation between CTE and suicidal thoughts is still being explored, Dr. Ross Zafonte, another author of the study, pointed out that suicidal ideation among players might stem from various factors, including isolation, chronic pain, depression, and cognitive impairment. He cautioned against assuming that all former players will develop CTE, emphasizing the need to treat common health issues that could exacerbate symptoms.
Dr. Zafonte remarked, "People are very obsessed, appropriately, with their concerns about CTE. We're not trying to invalidate that in any way. But treating people for the common things that can only make that pathology worse might make your symptoms better." This perspective underscores the importance of a holistic approach to mental health in former athletes.
The findings from the Harvard study shed light on the pressing issue of CTE among former NFL players. As awareness grows, it becomes increasingly vital to address the mental health challenges these athletes face. By identifying treatable conditions and fostering a supportive environment, we can help mitigate the risks associated with CTE and improve the quality of life for former players.
Players Who've Been Diagnosed with CTE
Several former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE. Notable cases include Junior Seau, a Hall of Fame linebacker, and Aaron Hernandez, a former tight end, both of whom were diagnosed posthumously. CTE has been associated with cognitive decline, mood disorders, and memory loss, leading to tragic outcomes in many players' lives. Players like Dave Duersonand Andre Waters also exhibited symptoms before their deaths. These diagnoses have sparked significant conversations about player safety and the long-term impact of concussions in professional football.
Comments
Post a Comment