The new and improved concussion thread

[Fenway]

I personally know the person that this article writes about and it has been painful to see him fall apart the past 5 years.

Mike Adamle's struggle and his crusade: 'I can feel the decline every single day'

 

[Llama19]

[NJ Devils defenceman Ben] Lovejoy becomes first active NHL player to pledge brain

Source: www.tsn.ca/lovejoy-becomes-first-active-nhl-player-to-pledge-brain-1.937427

 

[LadyStanley]

Gap between the NHL and its players on concussions widening - RealSport

Writer claims gap between players (NHLPA) and league widening WRT concussions.

 

[Llama19]

 

[Llama19]

 

[Llama19]

 

[Llama19]

Note: There are many more tweets posted concerning concussions. Would be worth the time to read more, especially the one about the kids.

 

[Llama19]

New Boston University study links repetitive hits to head, not concussions, to CTE

To quote:

"A Boston University study published Thursday detailed the strongest link yet that repetitive hits to the head -- not just those that produce a concussion -- can lead to the debilitating brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The new research highlights the risks of younger athletes playing contact sports and could lead to questions about the effectiveness of current concussion protocols.

“We know now there is no question that some of these kids, some of these adults, who are playing through hits are actually in really bad shape," Lee E. Goldstein, a co-author of the study, physician and associate professor at Boston University School of Medicine and College of Engineering, told USA TODAY Sports."

Source: www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2018/01/18/boston-university-study-repetitive-hits-head-not-concussions-cte/1043489001/

 

[Llama19]

Lindros, Habs’ chief surgeon say NHL silent on concussion funding pitch

To quote:

"Eric Lindros and Montreal Canadiens’ chief surgeon Dr. David Mulder say they asked the NHL to invest $31 million - $1 million per team - in brain trauma research on the eve of the 2017 NHL All-Star Game.

A year later, with the 2018 game less than a week away, Lindros and Dr. Mulder say they have yet to receive an answer from the NHL."

Source: www.tsn.ca/lindros-habs-chief-surgeon-say-nhl-silent-on-concussion-funding-pitch-1.975356

 

[Llama19]

Bob Costas will skip the Super Bowl because of the NFL’s connection to brain trauma

To quote (via Sports Business Daily within the article):

"“I have been making the same points for several years, often on NBC. In halftime commentaries, interviews with Roger Goodell and other prominent NFL figures, appearances on CNN and elsewhere, I have addressed the issue of football and its undeniable connection to brain trauma many times. Why? Because the evidence is overwhelming and the effects are often devastating. It’s the elephant in the stadium at every game whether others choose to acknowledge it or not. And it’s not going away. So the idea that I am only now finding my voice on this, or that NBC was taken aback by what I said at Maryland is just wrong. It’s all simple and straightforward.”"

Source: www.sbnation.com/2018/1/24/16927456/bob-costas-super-bowl-brain-trauma-nfl

 

[Killion]

^^^ Saw this on the news yesterday.... and good for Bob Costas. Most unfortunate the NFL decided to take the action they did.

 

[Llama19]

^^^ Saw this on the news yesterday.... and good for Bob Costas. Most unfortunate the NFL decided to take the action they did.

Yeah...with the hit that occurred on New England's Gronkowski in the playoff game...in which he did not return due to the current concussion protocols...and could be doubtful for the Super Bowl...I wonder what the reaction will be then if he does not play...

 

[LadyStanley]

You Are Not Alone | By Corey Hirsch

Corey Hirsch wants everyone to know, you are not alone (regarding mental health issues). Dreams of awareness campaigns across North America in schools so kids can identify mental health issue and get treated, without ostracization.

 

[Llama19]

Yeah...with the hit that occurred on New England's Gronkowski in the playoff game...in which he did not return due to the current concussion protocols...and could be doubtful for the Super Bowl...I wonder what the reaction will be then if he does not play...

Interesting update concerning Gronkowski...No news may be good news for the Patriots and Rob Gronkowski

 

[Llama19]

Family of Late UMD Hockey Player Andrew Carroll Donating His Brain to Research

To quote:

"The family of the late former UMD hockey player, Andrew Carroll is choosing to donate Carroll's brain to the CTE Center at Boston University.

"It was an easy decision," Chris Carroll told KSTP-TV. "In some respect it brought some comfort to my parents. Certainly not that it's going to be a silver bullet answer, but it can certainly help shape things moving forward," said Carroll."

Source: www.wdio.com/news/andrew-carroll-umd-suicide-cte-research-/4761510/

 

[Llama19]

Hits to the Head May Result in Immediate Brain Damage

To quote:

"But when the researchers closely examined the young men’s brains, they found more harm than they had expected. The teenagers’ blood-brain barriers, a natural defense system that keeps harmful substances from entering the brain, appeared to have been damaged, and many of the small blood vessels throughout their brains had sprung tiny leaks. Two of the brains showed disquieting accumulations of tau proteins near these broken blood vessels, and one brain had diagnosable Stage I C.T.E.

This was the first time that scientists had found signs of incipient or actual C.T.E. so soon after a brain injury and in people so young."

Source: www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/well/move/hits-to-the-head-may-result-in-immediate-brain-damage.html

 

[WingsFan95]

Honestly it's a crapshoot. I meet retired NHL & NFL players who display serious symptoms and others who have none. I'm talking similar career lengths too.

 

[Llama19]

 

[Llama19]

[Ex-hockey stars] Angela Ruggiero, Hayley Wickenheiser pledge brains to concussion research

To quote:

"American bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor also was included in the announcement. Other prominent female athletes who have pledged their brains for concussion research include soccer player Abby Wambach and swimmer Jenny Thompson.

"As a woman, I know a lot of studies skew towards male subjects, so it's important to have more female brains to study," Ruggiero said in a news release. "I felt it was important for me to put my foot forward and pledge my brain to help this great cause and to learn more about the effects of sports. If it can help future generations, it's worth it to me. I hope my actions can inspire others to do the same, specifically other athletes and specifically female athletes because any study has to have a balanced representation of both genders.""

Source: www.espn.com/olympics/hockey/story/_/id/22348452/ex-hockey-stars-angela-ruggiero-hayley-wickenheiser-pledge-brains-research

 

[Llama19]

 

[Llama19]

FDA approves first blood test for concussion

To quote:

"The US Food and Drug Administration has, for the first time, approved a blood test to help detect concussion in adults.

The Brain Trauma Indicator test measures two biomarkers: proteins known as UCH-L1 and GFAP that are released upon injury to the brain and pass through the blood-brain barrier. Elevated levels of the proteins can be detected within 15 or 20 minutes of injury. The test can be taken within 12 hours of injury, and results can be obtained within three or four hours."

Source: www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/health/concussion-blood-test-fda-bn/index.html

 

[MaskedSonja]

FDA approves first blood test for concussion

To quote:

"The US Food and Drug Administration has, for the first time, approved a blood test to help detect concussion in adults.

The Brain Trauma Indicator test measures two biomarkers: proteins known as UCH-L1 and GFAP that are released upon injury to the brain and pass through the blood-brain barrier. Elevated levels of the proteins can be detected within 15 or 20 minutes of injury. The test can be taken within 12 hours of injury, and results can be obtained within three or four hours."

Source: www.cnn.com/2018/02/14/health/concussion-blood-test-fda-bn/index.html

Now thats interesting. An nhl player pulled and giving a bloid sample to see if those chemicals appear. Im guessing the nhlpa would have to agree on allowing it to happen.

 

[LadyStanley]

I'm sure that there are ways to "ensure" the player is properly tested/diagnosed. It may already be in the CBA that the players allow the team to perform "necessary" diagnostic tools to ensure their health. If not, I might expect something more explicit coming.

 

[Llama19]

Former Seahawks' brains shed light on NFL head injuries

To quote:

""He [Seahawks Center Grant Feasel] had severe CTE," said [Boston University neuropathologist Dr Ann C.] McKee as she sat in her office in January looking at a slide through her microscope. "He was in his 50s when he died, but he had CTE that had started to affect widespread regions of his brain. It was really riddled with disease," she said.

"Every time you see anything brown, it's abnormal," said Dr. McKee as she pointed to widespread dark brown regions on the image of Feasel's brain.

"All this brown is Tau protein inside of nerve cells, and that's what the Tau does, it builds up inside of nerve cell..." and leads to loss of cognitive skills, depression and suicide, said McKee."

Source: www.king5.com/article/news/local/investigations/former-seahawks-brains-shed-light-on-nfl-head-injuries/281-520803554

 

[cheswick]

Now thats interesting. An nhl player pulled and giving a bloid sample to see if those chemicals appear. Im guessing the nhlpa would have to agree on allowing it to happen.

Unfortunate that the test takes 3 hours for results.