[NU Sports] Brain disease link seen in vets, football players

[Beamsley, Jeff]

Now that it has some focus, I'm sure it will get a lot more study, both because the nature of war has changed with the widespread use of IED's and because there is legitimate concern about the long term effects of multiple athletic concussions.

Unfortunately this isn't like the traumatic injury that might occur on the battlefield, or the knee injury that might occur on the football field.  Our ability to treat soldiers and athletes has improved dramatically.  Far fewer soldiers die from wounds than in past conflicts and far fewer athletes suffer career ending injuries than in years past.

The problem is that these brain injuries, at least at the moment, have no viable treatment option (surgical or medication).

The only viable option that I'm aware of at the moment, if you are concerned about the risk of this type of injury, is to avoid service in a combat zone or participation in a contact sport where concussions are a potential risk.  As Roy pointed out, you are still vulnerable to injury in auto accidents or falls.

Jeff


-----Original Message-----
From: Roy S. Lamberton [mailto:rstetson at capps-assoc.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:36 AM
To: Beamsley, Jeff; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Brain disease link seen in vets, football players

I was half hoping that someone on the list had some more insight into the study of
traumatic brain injury since I have a nephew-in-law who suffers from the disorder after
some close calls in Iraq.

What isn't explained in any of the studies I've seen so far (and I'm not on the Neurology
circuit) is why some people go through the trauma and yet don't have TBI or post traumatic
stress. 

Fortunately for me, I was not in a rating that was allowed anywhere near combat back
during Viet Nam, but I have had a few head injuries in auto accidents when I was younger. 

It is something that needs a lot more study, I just hope the deck isn't stacked against
athletics.

rsl

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Opinions expressed above are mine alone and are not
those of any organizations of which I am a member.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate.
Computer Applications & Support Associates
Coach Roy's Random Thoughts - http://coachroy.org
--------------------- Also ----------------------
"Commissioner" Delaware American Legion Baseball
Director Media Relations - Little League 
  Senior League Softball World Series
CTR2 USN (67-70) - CTRCS USNR (Ret) (64-67/70-95)
Northwestern University - Speech 1974 - 
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968
Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
=================================================
There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, 
love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens 
cannot cure - Dwight D. Eisenhower
=  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =
If we become a country in which we say, 'Please, 
tell me how to live,' We're Doomed!"
                   -- Pete Hamill, "Prohibition"
===========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========



-----Original Message-----
From: Beamsley, Jeff [mailto:Jeff.Beamsley at covisint.com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:06 AM
To: Roy S. Lamberton; nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: RE: [NU Sports] Brain disease link seen in vets, football players

I'm assuming that you posted this in order to elicit comment rather than simply as a
public service.

There is a problem that medical science is starting to better understand associated with
brain trauma.  That problem affects the long term health of those who suffer from it.

There are now two populations of young people who exhibit that problem, soldiers who have
been in or near explosions and football players.

I'm sure that there will be more studies to better refine both detection and treatment.
Those studies may discover other groups that are potentially at risk. 

The open question now is what do we do to prevent it.  I don't think that we can continue
to just ignore it.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com [mailto:nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com] On Behalf Of Roy S.
Lamberton
Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 7:53 AM
To: nwu-sports at tssi.com
Subject: [NU Sports] Brain disease link seen in vets, football players

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/17/MNG61OJ3C4.DTL

presented without comment...

rsl



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Opinions expressed above are mine alone and are not those of any organizations of which I
am a member.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Roy S. Lamberton - Senior Associate.
Computer Applications & Support Associates Coach Roy's Random Thoughts -
http://coachroy.org
--------------------- Also ---------------------- "Commissioner" Delaware American Legion
Baseball Director Media Relations - Little League
  Senior League Softball World Series
CTR2 USN (67-70) - CTRCS USNR (Ret) (64-67/70-95) Northwestern University - Speech 1974 -
Chi Phi: Pi 1974, KD 1968 Publisher Emeritus: Purple Reign (Fox Sports)
=================================================
There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and
energy of her citizens cannot cure - Dwight D. Eisenhower =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =  =
=  =  =  =  =  = If we become a country in which we say, 'Please, tell me how to live,'
We're Doomed!"
                   -- Pete Hamill, "Prohibition"
===========  Go Cats -  Beat 'em All  ===========



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