From the archive: Anatomy of a concussion, and the NFL’s brain disease problem
This drawing is from 2010, when the National Football League was beginning to appreciate concussions as a problem. The NFL now knows it has a concussion crisis, but a recent PBS documentary made clear that there may be a much more dire threat to football.
Dr. Anne McKee, a Boston University neurologist has found chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the brains of more than 40 former NFL players. The disease has also been found in a high school player and a college player. It is likely that CTE can be brought on by repeated blows to the head and can perhaps be acquired without ever suffering a concussion.
Dr. McKee wonders how far it goes, and fears that most NFL players may have CTE.
Parents, are you ready to send your kids into the game?
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