Brain Injury and our Heros

A recent University of North Carolina study showed that the average college football player receives over 300 blows to the head in four seasons. In the pros it is even higher.

Autopsy studies show that NFL players with early dememtia do have significant anatomical changes to their brains. Dave Duerson the former Chicago Bears safety shot himself in the chest, and not in the head, to save his brain for analysis.  Before he killed himself he left a note to his family to donate his brain to the NFL-supported Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. After analysis, the Center announced that Duerson’s brain had developed the same trauma-induced disease recently found in more than 20 deceased players.

Dr. Ronald Glasser, in his new book /Broken Bodies/Shattered Minds/ explores the traumatic injuries of soldiers on the battlefield and football  players on the gridiron.” The military is now using Tasor-MRI’s to document traumatic injuries to the brain following exposure to shock waves from exploding IED’s that are not found on MRI’s or CT scans.”  He says. “It is only a matter of time before the NFL Players’ Association demands Tasor-MRI studies on the effect of a player’s impact on multiple helmet-to-helmet collisions.”

Former U.S. Army physician Dr. Ron Glasser examines the changing tactics of warfare and the resulting wounds focusing on the traumatic effects of concussive and shock wave injuries to the brain. He is a resident of Minneapolis and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Medical School.