A Blow To The Brain

October 11, 2009 5:20 PM

New studies show that athletes, especially professional football players, who suffered many blows to the head, became brain damaged. Bob Simon reports.

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by daniesbrwneyes October 18, 2009 9:32 PM EDT
I think it should be morn caution on this game. I have epilepsy and I did not choose to have scar tissue left on my brain from mingitus of the brain as a child. Yet these grown men and parents have a choice to let there child play football or even ruff sports. Along time ago I questioned sport like football hockey and soccer. I do not feel sorry for the grown me in NFL we choose many things in life and see how things can injure our bodies and still keep going on with things.
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by maxwebster October 15, 2009 12:28 PM EDT
I am convinced that one of the main causes of concusions is the equipment players wear in todays sports at both the amateur and professional level. These kids are wearing armour and being hit by armour. Think back to the equipment that was worn before the 80's...it was all foam. Look at todays equipment, it is all heavy plastics etc....it is armour. The NFL, NHL etc need to look at the equipment as a part of their studies.
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by ErasmusBlues October 14, 2009 7:28 PM EDT
Raising the issue of so-called "mild" Traumatic Brain Injury:

It's thrilling that 60 Mins did this story, a nice companion to Malcolm Gladwell's piece in this week's New Yorker, "Offensive Play":
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/10/19/091019fa_fact_gladwell

Most concussions happen in car accidents and most of those are underdiagnosed. That's my story, with no damage apparent on MRIs or CTscans hence "mild". My son Chris Byler made a short film based on a talk I've given in the Boston area to grad students. It's what a TBI is like from the inside. It should help you recognize whether you've sustain a brain injury, and give you a vocabulary for describing it to others.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TBINBD
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by georgevisger October 13, 2009 7:03 PM EDT
To PopBolt;

In regards to the NFL paying $88,000/yr to John McKey for his disability due to Alzheimer's, I agree with you totally in that our system has it's priorities completely ass backwards. When veterans who have placed themselves in harms way so others can make a living playing a game, come back from tours of duty (if they are lucky), to face no benefits and hardships, while overpaid primadonas sit out half the season because they think they are worth more than they are, it makes me hard pressed to even watch anymore.

I played football for 12 years total, including 2 years with the 49ers in 80 & 81 where I suffered the first of my 9 brain surgeries to date. I have never received a penny of disability or compensation from the NFL, nor will I, as to be vested you need to have played minimum of 4 years. It is a constant battle for me to hang on, as it is for most Americans these days, with some days better than others. But the fact of the matter is the NFL players pay into their own retirement system, with 90% of the players never seeing a dime of their hard earned money. The bulk goes to paying the blood sucking representatives we have in the NFL Players Association.

Until we quit paying to go to games, or quit watching games on TV, and start paying to visit injured vets in the hospital, nothing will change. We need to change our values from within.

George Visger
SF 49ers 80 & 81 (Super Bowl)
george.visger@gmail.com
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by lchester62 October 13, 2009 9:52 AM EDT
Despite scientific evidence, the NFL, NCAA, PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association), and Pop Warner leagues nationwide will continue to deny the link between collision sports and permanent brain damage simply because of the "link" between football and the almighty dollar. Football is a behemoth money maker and no one in the business will ever admit that their cash cow could lead to an early death or early disability of a participant. Out 18 year old son suffered a life-altering "concussion" in his freshman year of high school during practice. It was his 7th concussion; each time he had been cleared by his doctors. At the time of the last concussion he had been concussion-free for two years. We have watched our son go from an honor roll student to one who has not been able to attend school full-time for three years. His current GPA is 2.6. This year, his senior year, is the first time he has been healthy enough to attend every day. I learned that this "injury" is not reportable to the state health department through the school because the PIAA is supposed to monitor athletic-related injuries. My calls to the PIAA have not been returned by their medical director. If we don't report and monitor the injuries then we, the trusting, naive public will NEVER know just how widespread this problem is. Why? Because they don't want us to know. They don't want their supply of expendable players to dry up. They don't want the public to know just how dangerous this sport is. If a factory had as many injuries as high school football has concussions, the factory would be shut down by OSHA and investigated. There is no Football safety and health administration for our children - WHY NOT? Why doesn't anyone want to admit that this sport does so much harm? How many kids have to die first? How many kids have to have their lives irreversibly changed before someone steps in to do something? Finally scientists are providing the evidence that such a link exists and no one has the courage to do anything about it.
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by SportMedTed October 12, 2009 5:52 PM EDT
As someone who works with concussed athletes on both the high school and college level I appreciate 60 Minutes for covering this topic. The ratio of concussions is highest in football - though other sports may have more total concussions. The number one sporting/recreational cause of concussions is bicycling (due to the fact that many more people ride bikes than play football.) Car accidents and falls cause more concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI) than all sports.

In our sports medicine office we have developed a safe and effective treatment protocol for concussions and TBI but colleges and professional teams aren't interested (we've tried) even though we have the clinical outcomes to prove it (including an All-American basketball player.) The main obstacle - the team doctors - they won't allow us in because they don't understand the science involved. Meanwhile, athletes are being denied access to the only treatment protocol for concussions and TBI. Sad, but true.
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by milehimomof2 October 12, 2009 4:50 PM EDT
The dangers of long term issues being caused by concussions and head injuries are real. We learned that the hard way with my daughter. After her MRI and CAT scans revealed nothing abnormal (yet, she was still experiencing symptoms), the hospital gave us a hand out on post concussive syndrome and sent us home. They said it would just take time. Years later, she was still struggling in so many ways and nobody could seem to help her or give us any answers. Finally, my neighbor recommended an evaluation at CereScan (www.cerescanimaging.com). They did a functional brain assessment which identified exactly what was not working in my daughter's brain. They were able to show us that there was evidence of the encephalopathy and also confirm what other types of things had developed. Their doctor consulted with her treating doctor and she is doing so much better! I only wish I had known about the availability of this information years ago. Please take concussions seriously and realize that they can be responsible for serious issues later in life...
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by kcrutch October 12, 2009 4:15 PM EDT
Doesn't anyone else find it curious that the NFL spokesman for brain injury is not trained in the management of brain injuries? We would not take our computer to a capenter to be repaired, so why should we trust the opinions of physicians who are not certified brain specialists and let them dictate management of concussions or brain injuries? We should demand better as a society.
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by ademroff October 12, 2009 3:40 PM EDT
As a mother of a high school football player this issue scares me to death. It would be great if all the coaches were required to watch this episode, although I don't know if it would do any good. It seems to me that all they really care about is winning at whatever cost. My son suffered his first concussion during a flag football game in middle school. The coach had him rest for about 2 minutes, have a drink of water, and sent him right back into the game! I learned from his doctor that once someone has suffered a concussion they need at least a week to ten days to heal before returning. A second injury to an already bruised and injured brain is when real permanent damage can happen. Kuddos to 60 minutes for reporting on this!
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by artmatters2all October 12, 2009 1:10 PM EDT
All football coaches should check out the Center for Disease Control website (www.cdc.gov)for free information and fact sheets on concussions. And, this should be required reading for all coaches of all sports!
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by lamewlablue October 12, 2009 1:04 PM EDT
My brother sits in nursing home today as a result from brain trama while playing football.I am seeking any help or information on how to assist him. I know 60 min. mentioned the "88 program" for those suffering from head trama and bearing the $ for round the clock care.
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by PopBolt October 12, 2009 1:03 PM EDT
As much as I liked watching John Mackey play football, I find it diffficult to stomach the fact that the NFL pays former players $88,000 PER YEAR if they have dementia or Alzheimer's. My father was a WWII and Korean War veteran, worked hard his entire life, and now suffers dementia/early onset Alzheimer's. He MAY be eligible for about $1,000 PER MONTH, if he qualifies. He couldn't afford the long-term care insurance and isn't eligible for Medicaid. Bet John Mackey, and the rest of the NFL players made more in half of their careers than my dad did in his entire life. Looks like America has its priorities completely backwards again.
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by dastib October 12, 2009 12:04 PM EDT
i hope this does not hurt football' as someone else said about other sport's you can get hurt playing base ball' i am 55 year's old i played base ball hind catcher'' i got hit on the face mask a lot of times'' as a 10 year old player'' i look back now i see how that face mask saved me from a bad injury'' i think they will make better helment's to take care of brain injury'' let's play some football!!!!
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by dastib October 12, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
ha' the world is not going to last another 2000 thousand year's read the Bible
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by dastib October 12, 2009 11:56 AM EDT
i hope this does not hurt football' as someone else said about other sport's you can get hurt playing base ball' i am 55 year's old i played base ball hind catcher'' i got hit on the face mask a lot of times'' as a 10 year old player'' i look back now i see how that face mask saved me from a bad injury'' i think they will make better helment's to take care of brain injury'' let's play some football!!!!
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by wmetcalf58 October 12, 2009 11:50 AM EDT
Why in your piece on head trama did you not mention the great work beingdone by Atheletic Trainers in this regard. You should cover the topic completely.
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by blackburn40 October 12, 2009 1:16 AM EDT
I am a 20 year old former high school athlete who suffered 11 concussions. to this day i am still experiencing side effects from my several head injuries. i agree that everyone should get checked out with head injuries before returning to play. but the requirements are easy to cheat so that you can return earlier. they need to require it at all ages to have strenuous tests done. i was asked to quit football from several friends and family members. but the fact of the youth today that i know don't thing about long term health results from injuries. i never did till my senior year after the season i started researching it myself and have found startling results. i don't know if these results would have changed my mind about playing but i would have have more tests done on my brain. my freshman year of basketball i took a charge and slamed my head on the court and on my heads rebound the player stepped on my face slamming it yet again i was unconscious after the first blow and didn't remember getting stepped on. i rested through half time and the third quarter and we lost the lead and had foul trouble so we had kids in with not near the talent. i told the coaches i was fine and went in and scored 12 points in the third quarter including the game winning buzzer beater. i did not go to the docter for another 3 weeks till the season was over for fear of not being able to play i convinced my parents i was fine. when i went to the hospital an x-ray revealed that i had fractured my head skull in 2 places. during my senior year of football i had been yet again knocked unconcious temporarly on a kick return and got up then fell down again on my way off the field and continued to crawl off the field. i lay there yelling for the trainer and he never came i had to get up and wobble my way to him to find him on his cell phone he examined me and said i had a mild concussion. i sat out the next weeks game then convinced my docter i was fine and received several more concussions that season, but did not tell anyone because i loved the game to much to be sidelined. i urge parents and coaches to take concussions more seriously and for better equipment innovations. it was weird that only a hand full of kids had what they call concussion helmets. they were given to the team captains because they were cooler helmets and a reward for being a top player. i had to ask to receive one after a concussion suffered my junior year. the rest of the team had out dated helmets. the concussion helmet helped alot but onced you've received a concussion it so much easier to get another one. i don't know what lies ahead of me in my later years with my brain but i'm not looking forward to it. the love that kids have for the game is hard to get passed when it comes to injuries that could prevent you from playing. so like i did when i was playing was to not report it for fear of being taken out of the game. parents and coaches need to look at their son or player after a big shot where there slow and woozey to get up and not always take there word for it like my coaches and parents did with my inturies. athletes today i encourage you to get checked out immediately if you think you could have received a concussion.
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by SarahJanesDad October 11, 2009 11:38 PM EDT
As the father of a 4-year-old with traumatic brain injury, I am very glad to see 60 Minutes address the #1 leading cause of death and disability for children and young adults in the United States - acquired brain injury. The missing element to the story is what happens to these millions of children/young adults and their families every year? The system of care is arbitrary and every family is stuck reinventing the wheel. This is why the Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Act (PABI Act) is being introduced in Congress on Tuesday. It is the only comprehensive plan to prevent these brain injuries and support those families who have a child/young adult who sustain them. You can read more about the National PABI Plan by searching for it online.
Congratulations again to 60 Minutes for very important story!
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by tsaguilera October 11, 2009 11:26 PM EDT
I totally agree with an athlete not being allowed back into activity until released by a physician, but until all states make it mandatory that all schools, requardless of size have certified medical staff,certified athletic trainers (ATC), on the sideline to evaluate concussions or suspected head and spine injuries, the stories like this one with the young man in your story will continue to happen.
I question how many of the brain injuries that were life changing, could have been prievented, had there been a trained and certified person on site to evaluate, treat and prevent further inury before it became life changing. Unfortunately, schools and state politicians want to continue to blame fedral and state funding. How do you put a price on our young people's health, safety, and well being?
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by detroup October 11, 2009 10:59 PM EDT
Ten years ago in my psychology classes we discussed the impact of sports and brain injuries. Soccer was considered to have the highest number of traumatic brain injuries and football second (they wear helmets). Your correlation between dementia and brain damage is just that a correlation. This was not a true study on cause and effect.
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