Frontline - NFL Brain Disease

[Crusty]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/frontline-nfl-brain-disease_n_5911142.html

 

[RF2044]

"Disease?" Isn't this trauma-related? An injury [versus a disease], in other words?

 

[Crusty]

"Disease?" Isn't this trauma-related? An injury [versus a disease], in other words?

CTE is considered a disease.

 

[Halfmooncuse]

CTE is considered a disease.

:bang::bat:But it feels good when I stop!

 

[orange79]

"Disease?" Isn't this trauma-related? An injury [versus a disease], in other words?

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but I read an article that said that the trauma that can cause CTE allows a protein called tau to grow into neurofibrillary tangles between the nerve cells of the brain. The pathways between the cells (microtubules) normally transport nutrients and other substances between the cells. The tangles cause the tubules to collapse, preventing nutrients from moving from one cell to another.

The thing is, this condition is not only caused by trauma, but other unknown causes. Alzheimer's is the same type of condition. Trauma may cause the condition, but is not the only cause. Hence, it is termed a disease.

 

[RF2044]

CTE is considered a disease.

Just seems weird. I can see how the trauma would lead to degenerative conditions. But if I tore the cartilidge in my knee [for example], causing it to be permenantly damaged and not replenish, I wouldn't say that I have cartilidge disease. If I tore my ACL, it wouldn't be soft ligament disease. If I injure my shoulder and have a degenerative condition over time, it isn't rotator cuff disease.

Not shooting the messenger--just curious about how the term is being applied.

 

[RF2044]

I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but I read an article that said that the trauma that can cause CTE allows a protein called tau to grow into neurofibrillary tangles between the nerve cells of the brain. The pathways between the cells (microtubules) normally transport nutrients and other substances between the cells. The tangles cause the tubules to collapse, preventing nutrients from moving from one cell to another.

The thing is, this condition is not only caused by trauma, but other unknown causes. Alzheimer's is the same type of condition. Trauma may cause the condition, but is not the only cause. Hence, it is termed a disease.

That makes more sense--thx.

 

[DoctorBombay]

CTE is considered a disease.

Watched this twice last night and it's clear the NFL settled so that the full impact of the data/science wouldn't be scoured by the media/ public.
They spent years, similar to the cigarette companies, trying to downplay and discredit the data. It was only after they realized that wasn't gonna play anymore did they finally cave to the lawsuits...w/out admitting a link to CTE and football.
The implications of this situation have still not been felt, IMO. We won't see it right away, but the impact will eventually be felt in youth leagues all over the country. And they'd better hope govt. doesn't get involved and starts "regulating" things. JMHO

 

[OrangeinBoston]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/01/frontline-nfl-brain-disease_n_5911142.html

For a start, those practice helmet pads ought to be mandatory.

 

[Crusty]

Just seems weird. I can see how the trauma would lead to degenerative conditions. But if I tore the cartilidge in my knee [for example], causing it to be permenantly damaged and not replenish, I wouldn't say that I have cartilidge disease. If I tore my ACL, it wouldn't be soft ligament disease. If I injure my shoulder and have a degenerative condition over time, it isn't rotator cuff disease.

Not shooting the messenger--just curious about how the term is being applied.

Yeah, I know - go figure. I guess becasue there are other causes - see Orange79s post above.

 

[Crusty]

Watched this twice last night and it's clear the NFL settled so that the full impact of the data/science wouldn't be scoured by the media/ public.
They spent years, similar to the cigarette companies, trying to downplay and discredit the data. It was only after they realized that wasn't gonna play anymore did they finally cave to the lawsuits...w/out admitting a link to CTE and football.
The implications of this situation have still not been felt, IMO. We won't see it right away, but the impact will eventually be felt in youth leagues all over the country. And they'd better hope govt. doesn't get involved and starts "regulating" things. JMHO

You are probably correct - after all you are a doctor!

 

[omniorange]

Watched this twice last night and it's clear the NFL settled so that the full impact of the data/science wouldn't be scoured by the media/ public.
They spent years, similar to the cigarette companies, trying to downplay and discredit the data. It was only after they realized that wasn't gonna play anymore did they finally cave to the lawsuits...w/out admitting a link to CTE and football.
The implications of this situation have still not been felt, IMO. We won't see it right away, but the impact will eventually be felt in youth leagues all over the country. And they'd better hope govt. doesn't get involved and starts "regulating" things. JMHO

Two things stood out to me in that special.

76 of the 79 brains examined had CTE (which even for a relatively small self-targeted sample size is an unbelievable "hit rate") and the 21 year old who committed suicide having what apparently was an advanced case of it even though no actual "concussion" was ever reported - which was interpreted as meaning that even the hits below "concussion" level may be involved as well.

Truly a thought-provoking documentary.

Cheers,
Neil