Colorado residents might want to learn about a study published in December 2015 showing that a large percentage of men who played sports such as football in high school later developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy as adults. CTE is a degenerative brain disorder that results from brain trauma.
According to the study conducted by the Mayo Clinic, the brains of 66 men and 66 women were examined after they had died. CTE can only be seen by an examination of brain tissue, so diagnostic testing can only be performed post-mortem. All of the brains used in the research had come from people who donated their bodies for science.
Of the 66 men, 32 of them showed CTE development. Those 32 were men who had played contact sports in their youth. They had not played contact sports professionally. None of the women showed signs of CTE. The researchers stated that the study results show exactly how important it is to protect the head while playing sports. Repeated concussions during tackling may lead to a person’s suffering from permanent brain damage and injury. Schools should make certain that they are supplying their athletes with the latest advancements in helmets and other head-protection gear.
When someone suffers a brain injury, such as a concussion, it is important that they seek immediate medical attention. Early treatment can prevent the damage from becoming more severe. If a person suffers a severe traumatic brain injury, they may be left facing a lifetime of disability and require 24-hour care. Those who are injured because of the negligence of another, such as in a motor vehicle accident, may want to have the assistance of a personal injury attorney in seeking compensation from the at-fault party for the losses that have been sustained.