Blowing the whistle on sports concussions
Will the risk of dementia change the game?
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On March 13, 2015, Chris Borland, a star rookie linebacker on the San Francisco 49ers, announced his early retirement from professional football, citing concerns about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Borland, who had a history of 2 diagnosed concussions, walked away from a multi-million-dollar contract and potential sports superstardom, explaining that “from what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk.”1 Perhaps just as surprising as Borland's announcement was the support he received from teammates and other athletes—support that reflects a growing recognition in the athletic community that repetitive head trauma may be associated with CTE and other forms of dementia.2 Indeed, in a recent legal settlement, the National Football League estimated that approximately 30% of its former players will develop dementia. At the high school and college levels, state legislatures and universities have enacted limits to the number of full-contact practices, citing similar concerns about concussions. These developments have prompted a societal conversation about the risks of contact sports.
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See page 1504
- © 2015 American Academy of Neurology
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Letters: Rapid online correspondence
- Sports Concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Is the Evidence Strong Enough to Influence Public Policy?
- Brian L. Edlow, Neurocritical Care Staff, Massachusetts General Hospital[email protected]
- H Hinson
Submitted March 14, 2016 - We Know Enough to Decide
- Roger L Albin, Professor of Neurology, University of Michigan[email protected]
Submitted November 12, 2015
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