Study Could Determine Link Between Pro Football & Brain Injuries
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A new study could help determine if there is a direct link between long-term brain injuries and NFL players.
Tracey Leong has the findings from Johns Hopkins University.
This is the first time researchers have been able to study current and former players in real time and possibly put a very controversial argument to rest.
Repeated hard hits to the head that cause concussions on the field are being blamed on serious brain injuries for NFL players. It's an ongoing and controversial debate, even reaching a settlement of $756 million between the NFL and former players.
"Never expected to live to see the day that we would come to an agreement," said former NFL player Kevin Turner.
Turner, a former running back, played eight seasons in the NFL. Eleven years after he retired, he was diagnosed with ALS.
A new study by Johns Hopkins University will help researchers look at brain injury and repair for active NFL players to study them in real time.
"Document whether there are changes over the years that they play and then after they stop playing," said Johns Hopkins University Assistant Professor Dr. Jennifer Coughlin.
Recent studies show that NFL players have a 30% chance of suffering serious brain injuries---something this technology could help prove.
"We can start to address the questions of whether the football-related injuries or concussions they may be experiencing are directly linked to the molecular changes in the brain. We've never been able to do that before," Coughlin said.
"Never did I think that my mental or cognitive abilities would be impaired by playing this game," Turner said.
Scientists say early findings suggest sports-related hits to the head lead to problems with verbal learning, significant memory loss and change in mood. This new technology could help researchers better understand head injuries suffered in the league and possibly alter the future for players.
"Whether we can use some of those answers to make changes to the game to make it better," Coughlin said.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have expanded this study and are currently looking at a larger group of current and recently retired NFL players.
Findings in their current study will be available in the next year.