This could make youth football numbers go down even more
- Thread starter BigJohn34
- Start date
This is reason to have caution, but what people need to realize is that this is not as bad as everybody makes it out to be, and it is also a bigger deal than what the NFL made it out to be in the past. I think there is reason for caution and continuing innovation, but it is important for people to read into who was apart of the study, such as when the brains played the game and that all of these brains already had some kind of mental illness. The game has changed since the 70s 80s 90s and even early 2000s. Technique is being taught different and the helmet technology has only really taken off in the past 5 to 10 years. I will become more worried when I see players who play the modern game, with modern technology, and no prior mental health issues are showing that CTE is apparent and that it played a role in their life struggles. Please understand I am not trying to say that CTE isn't alarming, because I think it is, but I think that it is still way too early to make a final judgement and that some of the criticism is too much. Here is the actual study's findings and it is important to read the discussion part of it, because this is what the doctors said about the study and it is easiest for the average individual to understand. http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2645104
This part is why I think that some of the criticism is unfair, but still warrants caution
"This study had several limitations. First, a major limitation is ascertainment bias associated with participation in this brain donation program. Although the criteria for participation were based on exposure to repetitive head trauma rather than on clinical signs of brain trauma, public awareness of a possible link between repetitive head trauma and CTE may have motivated players and their families with symptoms and signs of brain injury to participate in this research. Therefore, caution must be used in interpreting the high frequency of CTE in this sample, and estimates of prevalence cannot be concluded or implied from this sample. Second, the VA-BU-CLF brain bank is not representative of the overall population of former players of American football; most players of American football have played only on youth or high school teams, but the majority of the brain bank donors in this study played at the college or professional level. Additionally, selection into brain banks is associated with dementia status, depression status, marital status, age, sex, race, and education.36 Third, this study lacked a comparison group that is representative of all individuals exposed to American football at the college or professional level, precluding estimation of the risk of participation in football and neuropathological outcomes."
I have been scared before after my recent career ended, but I have studied it more and there are still so many questions surrounding it and I would hate to see future kids miss out on the greatest game in the world, when the jury is still on football.
This part is why I think that some of the criticism is unfair, but still warrants caution
"This study had several limitations. First, a major limitation is ascertainment bias associated with participation in this brain donation program. Although the criteria for participation were based on exposure to repetitive head trauma rather than on clinical signs of brain trauma, public awareness of a possible link between repetitive head trauma and CTE may have motivated players and their families with symptoms and signs of brain injury to participate in this research. Therefore, caution must be used in interpreting the high frequency of CTE in this sample, and estimates of prevalence cannot be concluded or implied from this sample. Second, the VA-BU-CLF brain bank is not representative of the overall population of former players of American football; most players of American football have played only on youth or high school teams, but the majority of the brain bank donors in this study played at the college or professional level. Additionally, selection into brain banks is associated with dementia status, depression status, marital status, age, sex, race, and education.36 Third, this study lacked a comparison group that is representative of all individuals exposed to American football at the college or professional level, precluding estimation of the risk of participation in football and neuropathological outcomes."
I have been scared before after my recent career ended, but I have studied it more and there are still so many questions surrounding it and I would hate to see future kids miss out on the greatest game in the world, when the jury is still on football.
Youth football numbers are going down and have steadily declined every year over the last decade.
