On Concussions...



Junior Seau-from usmagazine.com

Most of you by now know about the recent death of former NFL linebacker Junior Seau, who apparently took his own life at age 43.  Josh writes an excellent piece that puts this whole episode in perspective as it relates to the the overall big picture of how violent contact sports such as football can eventually lead to severe complications, especially as it relates to concussions and brain injuries.  TMQ also does excellent writing on this subject as well.  Much research has been done to attempt to connect brain injuries while playing to complications later in life such as depression and bipolar disorder, which could lead to suicidal tendencies.

I have to say first as a science guy, I do sincerely hope that wherever Seau's brain goes, they researchers use appropriate scientific method.  Because of the heightened media attention this story has received, there might be pressure to draw the conclusion that Seau did suffer from traumatic encepalopathy as a result of repeated concussions.  However, throughout his playing career, Seau was never known to have a history of concussions.  That being said, there is no doubt in my mind he probably got hit in the head at least once or twice.  My only hope scientifically is that the research draws a fair conclusion and not the conclusion that everyone wants to hear. 

In any event, with the recent trend of retired players harming themselves after long careers, researchers and football guys alike suspect a connection between repeated concussions and brain injuries with these suicidal tendencies.  It seems like a logical connection.  The brain works as a result of series of chemical reactions which create electrical impulses that allow the brain to control parts of the body.  Mental disorders result from these chemical reactions not working properly.  Antidepressant medication attempts to restore these chemical imbalances.  However, repeated traumas to the head, even if minor, can potentially cause brain chemistry to change, almost like if you were going to take a baseball bat to a chemical supply closet.  The long-term effects of these injuries are still not well-understood, but hopefully looking at Junior Seau's brain will lead to more answers.

The NFL and pro sports leagues in general, are making great strides both in the handling of brain injuries and in their prevention.  The NFL now has a series of protocols that remove players from a game after potential head injury, and a much stricter policy regarding when (and if) they return.  The NHL has cracked down big time on hits to the head area as well as care for players who show concussion symptoms, even long after the initial injury.  However, despite these advances, as TMQ astutely notes, most of the advancements in brain injury prevention and treatment have not come from the pros, but from the ranks of youth football.  Many high school leagues already mandate that their players use anti-concussion helments, but not the NFL.  Players who show symptoms of brain injury are removed from a game and not allowed to play again for several weeks as they undergo continous testing and treatment.  Brain injuries are far more likely at the youth level, and are likely to cause more long-lasting effects, because the brain and cranium are still in development.  The necessity to protect the brain for a teenager is far more serious than for a fully-grown adult, which is serious enough. 

I am very interested to see what kind of results the testing on Junior Seau's brain will reveal, given the caveat that I presented above.  Hopefully it will lead to a better understanding of the effects of concussions and brain trauma on the human psyche, and hopefully will prevent tragedies like this one from ever happening again.