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Football players and traumatic brain injuries

There are many young boys who aspire to play football in Louisiana. Football is a big sport among youngsters, but there is new research out that it may cause traumatic brain injuries and more and more parents are opting not to allow their children to play.

One of the largest studies regarding football and traumatic brain injuries was recently completed. The study showed that 110 out of 111 deceased NFL players had a form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a degenerative brain disorder caused by repeated head trauma. Among all people involved in the study who had played football on various levels, 87 percent had some form of the disease. The disease tends to increase based on how long a person has been playing football. High school players had a more mild form, while college and professional players had more severe forms. Among the players who had a severe form, over 85% had dementia and 95 percent had cognitive disorders related to memory, attention and executive function. These findings are alarming for anyone who plays football.

Football players in Louisiana should be aware of the studies linking repetitive head trauma with traumatic brain injuries. These injuries often have a lasting impact on a player and can affect their family forever. For children playing football, it is important that coaches enforce the rules of the game to ensure safety and change the culture of hitting with heads. Delaying tackling may also help decrease these serious injuries.

A legal professional who is skilled in personal injury can help a family who has a loved one suffering from a traumatic brain injury. If the injury was caused by negligence, compensation may be available for medical expenses, future medical expenses, pain and suffering and other damages.

Source: time.com, “Degenerative brain disease found in 87% of former football players: Study” Alexandra Sifferlin, July 25, 2017