Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Case Study

Ray Easterling, former Falcons NFL player, was drafted in the 9th round,in 1972. He played for 7 years and started for 4 years. He was a leader on the team and even set many NFL and team records. He died May, 19, 2012. He was hit hard during a game and received a concussion. The coaches, athletic trainers, other medical staff and even the refs did not think that it was necessary to pull him from the game. Easterling continued to play through the concussion and it got worse hit after bruising hit. As time went on, Ray began to show signs of depression and insomnia, as it progressed he developed dementia and had trouble focusing, relating to people and organizing his thoughts. He suffered with all of these things 20 years after that horrifying
blow to the head. According The Mayo Clinic a concussion is defined as a traumatic brain injury that alters the way the brain functions.
In previous years people thought that only athletes can receive a concussion but through research we know that anybody can be concussed. A person can get a concussion due to a blow to the head, neck, or upper body (The Mayo Clinic). The symptoms of a concussion can vary, most include headache, dizziness, confusion, light and sound sensitivity, difficulty concentrating and feeling dinged. More specifically some symptoms include loss of consciousness, nausea, blurry vision, vomiting, seizures, fatigue, and slurred speech (The Mayo Clinic). Diagnosis and the clearance of a concussion is a pretty complicated process. In sports the patient-athlete is usually given a concussion test by the athletic trainer (ATC) or team physician. A ‘concussion test’ is a series of questions to determine whether a person has a concussion or not. Usually if the concussed is an athlete they are recommended to a sports medicine physician who has experience with concussions so that more tests can be done. The treatment for a concussion usually varies from person to person because not everybody's brains’ are the same. In the past people were told not to sleep when they have a concussion because they might forget to breath, but a newer study shows that sleep is the best thing for a concussion. To help the brain rest, a person with a concussion should also avoid watching television, playing video games, reading books, schoolwork, texting, etc. Depending on the severity of the concussion some doctors may suggest the the patient stay home from school or work. If the concussed wants to take pain medicine for their headache they should take Tylenol because it contains acetaminophen. Under no circumstances should a person with a concussion take Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or aspirin because those medications increase the risk for a brain bleed. (Mayo Clinic) Risk factors that may increase a person’s risk at receiving a concussion include participating in a high-risk or contact sport, being in a motor vehicle accident, included in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, victim of physical abuse, soldier involved in combat, falling (especially in children and older adults), and having previous concussions. Prevention of a concussion includes protective head gear, buckling seat belt, making your home safe, protecting children, exercising regularly and education about concussions.
For many years the NFL did not pay very much attention to concussions and were usually ignored or blown off. In recent years there has been a series of lawsuits against the NFL about concussions. Concussions were first noticed and became a problem a while ago but was recently brought to the media’s attention. “18 deaths and 159 serious injuries from college football within 10 years of the first game between Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1880s.” (Harrison 2014 (Thomas F. Budinger)). The NFL had even stated that there is no direct link between concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The denial of brain injury was compared to when the tobacco companies were denying that tobacco use had any connection with cancer. The League also lacked submitting the injury reports. According to Frontline in 2012 there were 171 concussions listed on the report whereas there were actually an estimated 261. There has been a lot of cases where a player received a concussion during a game but was sent back to play right away. The NFL concussion scandal is often related with a brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) which the League also denied had a connection with football.Many former professional football players were very passionated about this issue and even took their own lives to help with research. “Eighty-seven of 91 former NFL players who donated their brains to science after death tested positive for a brain disease that is believed to be linked with repeated head trauma and concussions” was said in a CNN article. CTE has been a rising concern for many athletes over the past few years. "In the NFL, when you have guys run into each other head-on, full speed, [expletive] is going to happen. But at least they're getting paid millions of dollars. In college, they've been running head-to-head into each other for what, an education? You see the irony? That's what you're supposed to be using your head for, an education.” (Fox Sports) Over the years the NFL has taken notice to the problem and has been taking strides to make the game more safe. Things like assessing the athletes who have or may have a concussion before, during and after games prove this. As an effort to make football a little more safe. (CNN) According to a CNN article Dr. Russ Lonser said “There has been a 25% reduction in concussions and 40% reduction in helmet-to-helmet hits in the past three seasons.” As a result of the lawsuit, the NFL lost $1 billion to make up for the past 65 years. In 2012 The NFL also made a $30 million donation to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health or the FNIH in order to help the research for understanding concussions. The League continues to make large investments; since the settlement, they have invested about $100million into concussion research awareness. (NFL)
In 2002 Dr.
Bennet Omalu discovered Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in a former NFL player, Mike Webster. CTE is a progressive brain degenerative disease that is caused by repetitive brain trauma. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy can affect who has had multiple brain injuries and may be any age. CTE can only be diagnosed through an autopsy but, tests can be done to determine if a person might have it. Some of the symptoms of CTE include cognitive impairment, impulsive behaviors, apathy, short-term memory loss, difficulty planning and carrying out tasks, emotional instability, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts or behavior. (Mayo Clinic) Because Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is only diagnosable through autopsy all of the symptoms are unclear. (Mayo Clinic) Other possible symptoms may include irritability, aggression, speech and language difficulties, dysphagia, motor impairment, vision and focusing problems, olfactory abnormalities, and dementia. These symptoms happen not only because the brain is literally deteriorating but because people with CTE have an abnormal buildup of a protein in their brain called nau. (Boston University) Right now there is not a true treatment or cure for chronic traumatic encephalopathy but doctors suggest that cutting back on physical activities might help reduce symptoms. Prevention for CTE is basically to take concussions very seriously and always take precautions in contact sports. (Mayo
Clinic)
Concussions are a traumatic brain injury the alters the way the brain functions. (Mayo Clinic) Anybody can get a concussion, not just athletes. The NFL denied that the sport had any connection to traumatic brain injuries, which resulted in a $1billion lawsuit. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease and is caused by repetitive blows to the head. Concussions in the NFL has been a growing problem over the years and there is no end in sight.