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Funny you mention money effecting research. I beat this drum every time we discuss concussions, but there are proteins that are released when you have brain damage. We use the same technology to diagnose heart attacks. It is used in other countries, but the NFL funds concussion research in the US, so we will probably never use it.
Kids are in a pretty bad environment these days, GMO's, WiFi radiation and other factors that people don't want to hear.
They tell us we are getting healthier with all these beautiful science revelations like vaccines yet kid's are getting cancer more than ever.
I have heard about the proteins. I certainly wouldn't doubt the league is actively pushing back against advancement. That's why I support these lawsuits like my coach's brother was involved in. It's not that I believe the NHL, or any other league, is negligent or even responsible for things that happened before they were aware. But I do believe it is their responsibility to keep the safety standards on par with the science. Unfortunately, lawsuits are the only real way that is going to happen. People and organizations just don't do the right thing on their own when so much money (especially other people's money) is involved. I wouldn't be shocked if the AMA or SNELL or anyone else related to motorcycle related head injuries is on the other end of a suit. It's naive to think it isn't going to catch up with them at some point. Proactive vs. reactive...
The Shop
My BIL was concussed in a HS football game. This was in the 70's so all he got was the old how many fingers am I holding up? He went back in the game but didn't remember it. My MIL was highly pissed.
I think I have had 5 concussions in my life. I did have one that caused nausea and vomiting, the rest were just a little achy but felt fine the next day.
A kid can be born with one of the alleles of the Rb1 genes mutated and still be considered completely healthy (with functional retinablastoma protein), nobody would even know it was mutated. That is until the 2nd allele of Rb1 gene picks up a mutation leading in a nonfunctional retinoblastoma protein....then BAM all of a sudden the cell cycle lost an important inhibitory protein that regulates cell growth. Once that step in that tightly regulated cycle isn't functional, you have cell survival in cells that would normally be signaled for self-death or molecular repair and potentially excessive cell growth. The child would still appear to be perfectly healthy until the cell growth reached a point where it can visually be detected in the retina.
Unhealthy people may be considered to be at an increased risk of cancer due to lifestyle choices and environmental factors, but healthy people can and do get cancer.
Flexible helmet shells are also a reality now.
Liners are available now
Imagine the potential of dementia at age 60, for example, and the cost financially and emotionally to loved ones, and add that to the pros and cons.
Life is dangerous and always ends in death. And yes, it’s short, but it’s not just about maximizing fun for ourselves.
http://www.espn.com/action/story/_/id/15613973/dave-mirra-hero-death-ct…
Pit Row
The brain is damaged. You are dumber as a result. And what feels like "recovery" is just you getting used to your new surroundings. The brain does it's best to sorta rewire itself and work around the damaged area and loss of brain power. But to say anything actually has "healed" or "recovered" would be a inaccurate use of those terms.
That is VERY scary when you think about it.
Some will argue that "preserving oneself" is a waste. They are missing the point. There's a big difference between preserving our bodies and preserving our brains so that we dont one day suffer or harm our loved ones.
I like living life to the fullest just like the next guy. Im not out blowing rails of cocaine tho. I gotta weigh out fun versus long term risks. And everyone will have a different opinion on that, which is fine. I just dont understand why they want to suppress the research tho.
There are MANY athletes out there suffering. And their families are suffering as well. NFL players beating their wives is WAAAAY more common than any realize. And it's probably due to CTE. I got friends in those circles and they arent shy about the topic but the topic isnt mainstream. Knowing just how much that is swept under the rug tho, I gotta wonder how prevalent CTE related depression & domestic violence is in the action sports world? I have family who are former action sport pro's. Lotsa friends. Post career depression is a VERY common theme. I cant say it's CTE related for sure. Some of it is drugs. Some of it is just the harsh reality of no longer being in the limelight or having that next race to live for. It's impossible to diagnose but I cant help but wonder how big CTE's role in it is.
It takes time to get these tests to work, and to get the FDA to approve such a dianostic. There could be great harm to people if the tests aren't accurate. I can guarantee you that no league can stop companies from developing such a test.
tcallahan hit it on the head perfectly.
But I totally understand where Andy is coming from on this. I would suspect that much of the negative feedback on this topic is from people scared this will be treated like a 2nd Amendment debate and the result will be a loss of freedoms. In that regard, I can totally sympathize with anyone who is defensive. We do have a tendency to take things too far in the name of safety and as a result completely miss the mark.
Gun control is a perfect example. Mental health should be the issue, yet it is ignored. The knee jerk reaction is to try to disarm the public.
If brain trauma research leads to tests that allow us to one diagnose CTE in a living patient, and that means you have to give up your dirtbike and other contact sports, I would hope any of us do the right thing there. It means we've had our fun and it's time to put our loved ones first.
Andy, if you tested positive for early CTE signs, would you be able or willing to give up certain freedoms? Would any of us? Would we be of sound mind to make the decision on our own?
Being able to declare someone medically unfit to make sound decisions has very big implications.
I mean, the very nature of brain trauma like CTE is that you arent actually making your own sound choices. Lotsa current and former NFL players are suffering with this right now. Trust me, they dont WANT to beat their wives. They're often wondering WTF just happened during the aftermath. Everyone in that situation is suffering.
Your second point is super valid. It's pandora's box for sure. I think most people in this country are both medically AND intellectually unfit to even vote, let alone be allowed to drive a car. But if you start taking away everyone's participation trophies they'd shit kittens because everyone is so damn entitled. And that is if the system was implemented fairly. Which we know it wouldnt because humans sorta suck and take advantage of every opportunity to exploit situations.
So I gotta agree with what you're saying in that regard. Less rules the better.
Post a reply to: CTE caused by repeated hits, not by concussions....