It’s not new information that a concussion isn’t good for you. But what was once thought to be a single injury that has effects and then heals, leaving you fine again is now becoming better understood to be the possible beginning of a long term health problem. CTE, or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is a cognitive condition that results from concussions. Medical research is still ongoing, and getting more and more involved as CTE becomes more recognizable in individuals who have long term exposure to concussive head trauma, but what is known now is multiple concussions dramatically increase one’s risk of CTE.
The affects of CTE are devastating. Memory and rational thinking skills are impacted, as are emotional control and overall ability to maintain a healthy mental balance in mood and outlook. Long term sufferers of CTE often experience significant issues with aggression or depression, and it was this rash of legal issues and suicides in high impact sports athletes that has brought CTE to such recent prominent light. The issue with CTE has long been recognized in boxers, but it was considered to be just part of the risks of that sport. As football players, even those who have been retired for years, show symptoms, the medical community is getting more invested in investigating and finding treatments to deal with CTE.
Key Points:
- 1Top athletes are facing a few different problems related to their brains.
- 2People are genuinely concerned about the trend, but change is on the way.
- 3Chris Nowinski is an expert on the subject and will lend his guidance.
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