The NFL and Concussions: Ethics and Technology By Angelo Butera

History

What’s the issue? NFL players sustain multiple blows to the head every game, and some of these are suspected to be causing concussions. Repeated concussions can lead to permanent brain damage. What is the NFL doing to help protect their players?

Suicides & CTE Junior Seau & John Grimsley committed suicide and donated their brains to science Signs of chronic traumatic encephalophathy (CTE) were found in their brains CTE causes depression, psychotic symptoms, erratic behavior, dementia, symptoms consistant with Parkinson’s Difficult to detect, must perform brain biopsy/post- mortem Many football players believed to have died from Alzheimer's in the past, was it possibly CTE?

John Grimsley’s Brain, Post-Mortem Left: 65 year old brain Right: John’s brain

NFL Culture Football is by definition a contact sport Big hits get the crowd excited Players are encouraged to “play through the pain” New Orleans Saints “Bountygate” Team doctors “overlooking” concussions

What is being done: Technology New helmets have sensors to detect hits and relay information to medical professionals Strategically placed “shock absorbers” absorb some of the impact Added padding taken from military equipment Facemask attach to the sides rather than forehead with latches

What is being done: Rules Saints players suspended Kickoffs moved up, so more touchbacks Independent doctors test for concussions Any loss of consciousness means a player cannot return Rules against hitting “defenseless players” Fines in the tens of thousands for hits to the head

Future Better helmets lead to less concussions/damage Better understanding of head injuries benefits medical community Knowing what causes CET possibly means advances in treating Alzheimers, dementia, Parkinsons Helmet technology used by military.

References Collins M, Lovell MR, Iverson GL, Ide T, Maroon J. Examining concussion rates and return to play in high school football players wearing newer helmet technology: a three-year prospective cohort study. Neurosurgery. 2006;58:275– Levy ML, Ozgur BM, Berry C, Aryan HE, Apuzzo ML. Analysis and evolution of head injury in football. Neurosurgery Sep; 55(3): Corbett, Jim. "Warren Moon Promotes New Helmet in Fight against Concussions." USA Today. Gannett, n.d. Web. 2 Nov Andrew Brandt. "The NFL's Concussion conundrum." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 17 Oct Web. 11 Nov Jackson, Derrick. "Ringing the Bell About Concussions." BostonGlobe.com. N.p., 20 Oct Web. 2 Nov HITS Technology. Riddell, n.d. Web. 11 Nov " Football, war raise specter of new brain injuries" The Why Files. N.p., 30 Sept Web. 2 Nov "Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy." Boston University, n.d. Web. 2 Nov