Dementia study indicates future risks for footballers

By Aurora O’Geen
The New York Times recently featured an article focusing on a major study of dementia rates among former NFL players. The study was conducted by the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research; and although long denying any relation between football and cognitive decline among players the NFL commissioned the study. It was found that 6.1 percent of players age 50 and above had been diagnosed with dementia related symptoms; five times higher than the national average of 1.2 percent. Players age 30-49 showed stats 19 times greater than the national average; 1.9 percent compared to 0.1 percent.
With such compelling data, what does this mean for the future of football? The NFL is currently in the process of conducting its own study among 120 former professional players, results are expected within a few years. Dementia itself is a symptom of Alzheimer’s disease. It targets a person’s short term memory loss- leaving them able to describe events from years earlier, yet unable to remember what they ate for breakfast. Many times patients are unable to recognize family members, even forgetting the names of their own children. Megan Whitton, whose grandmother was recently diagnosed with dementia, describes the constant forgetfulness and confusion as “emotionally draining.” Whitton states that “it’s not easy knowing there’s nothing you can do to help.”
Marcie Wyand, admissions director at Pine Harbour Assisted Living in Plattsburgh, deals with dementia patients on a daily basis. Symptoms may include disorientation or confusion, much like that of a person right after any head injury. The causes of dementia are for the most part unknown, it is however certain that environmental factors, heredity, and history of head injury can lead to the disease. Although dementia itself will not kill you, there is no known cure. Wyand states that “head injuries should not be taken lightly” continuing on to note the “long term effects on the brain are irreversible.”
Football has long been a tradition in the North Country; players can start anywhere from kindergarten up. After hearing the risks associated with dementia why aren’t coaches, parents, or players taking it seriously? Coaches may overlook injuries not wanting to face the loss of their star player, or simply because they may not witness every single hit or injury during a game. Players themselves brush off injuries not wanting to be labeled a wimp or appear weak. Even parents may not consider an injury as serious as it should be. It’s easy to overlook the long-term affects these injuries may have on a player, but overtime they add up; once the brain has been damaged its nearly impossible for it to recover properly.
Pat Goodell, head coach of Plattsburgh’s varsity football team believes safety procedures have come a long way since his days of playing varsity football. Many times head injuries were taken lightly in the past, Goodell states that players would even joke a teammate had “gotten his bell rung” after receiving a hard hit to the head. Today however, several precautions are taken when a player receives a hit to the head. In fact, Plattsburgh high school has a series of steps a player must complete before returning to the game after a concussion or head injury. Players suspected of head trauma are examined by the schools trainer, and only if cleared by the trainer and coach are they able to return to the field. Once symptom free, they are not out of the clear- they must attend practices and pass a four day trial period. This involves conditioning training without contact for one day, and if symptom free, again the second day. The third day back, a player is able to have minimal contact during practice, if they deem symptom free afterwards, they are able to return to full contact on their fourth day.
For players, the process may seem grueling, but it’s clear that head injuries are not taken lightly; these precautions are intended to ensure the safety of players now, and in the future. Many times, players begin football at a young age- increasing their chances for brain trauma overtime. Brian Major, league commissioner of PAL youth football organization in Plattsburgh says “a parent of a youth player should make sure that the league they are playing in is using every safety precaution necessary.”
Brian has ran the PAL organization for 13 years, within that time its believed only 1 or 2 players have had concussions. However they do make note that the intensity of injuries will no doubt increase with age as players grow, but precautions should be taken at every level. For parents concerned with safety, or hesitant to the idea of youth football, Major ensures, “rules of this organization have been formatted to encourage fundamental skills as opposed to the win first mentality.”
Football is not the only sport linked to cognitive decline among players- boxing has long been linked to memory loss both short and long term. Although, for players the goal of football isn’t exactly to knock your opponent out; as it is with boxing. For parents and players passionate about football, taking the necessary precautions at every level will ensure their safety; both now and in the future.