Health and Healthcare Systems

Research shows athletes with no history of concussion still suffer from brain damage

Jan 28, 2018; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) scores a touchdown against Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback A. J. Bouye (21) in the first half in the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

New research shows that there are often brain injuries that go unnoticed, and can cause a serious risk to athletes. Image: USA TODAY Sports

Kyree Leary

Concussions don't tell the whole story

Concussions are a serious threat to athletes and military veterans, and sports like football have brought the condition into the public spotlight in an unprecedented way. Players that suffer from a concussion — exhibiting signs of dizziness, headaches, or vision problems — will likely get the diagnosis and treatment they need. But new research suggests that there are some head injuries that can cause brain damage without resulting in a concussion… and those “silent” head injuries often go untreated.

After seven years of research, a study published in the journal Brain provides evidence suggesting the hits that don’t result in concussions can still lead to the development of a degenerative brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

Loading...

According to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, during CTE, proteins in the brain form clumps that slowly make their way through the brain — killing brain cells in the process. Early stages of CTE can affect a person’s mood, leading to aggression and depression. As the disease progresses, patients have trouble thinking, experience memory loss, or develop dementia. Perhaps the most startling aspect of CTE is that it has been observed in people as young as 17.

“It’s the hits to the head, not concussion, that trigger CTE,” said Lee Goldstein, a School of Medicine associate professor of psychiatry at Boston University and lead investigator on the study in a press release. According to the team’s research, nearly 20 percent of athletes who exhibited CTE had no records of previous concussions.

The injuries you can't see

Currently, CTE cannot be properly diagnosed until after death, but NPR reports that Goldstein and Dr. Julian Bailes, chairman of the department of neurosurgery at NorthShore University Health System, are both independently working on ways to detect the degenerative disease in living people.

Until that happens, though, the pair hopes this new study is used to prop up the significance of all head injuries, regardless of whether or not they lead to concussions. Goldstein wants to see his work applied to other contact sports, then expanded to cover everyday people.

“[The study] certainly adds to our science and our understanding,” Bailes said, as reported by NPR. “And hopefully it adds to greater protection, greater safety and the ability for all ages to enjoy contact sports.”

Loading...

Even the National Football League has taken note of the study, saying in a statement provided to NPR: “We have been in close touch with the researchers at Boston University, who are also members of our Mackey-White Health and Safety committee, and we will review this study carefully to consider future changes to improve the health and safety of our players.”

That said, Goldstein and Bailes disagree on one point: whether or not young children should be playing football, or any other contact sport. For Goldstein and Christopher Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, the study suggest children playing contact sports puts them at greater risk of developing CTE, and they shouldn’t be allowed to do so until high school.

Have you read?

Bailes, however, doesn’t believe the study has enough data to back that up. Though he said it’s ultimately a personal choice, he notes that parents and children have to consider the risks.

In the end, Bailes compared head injury risks — and the associated health outcomes — with those risks involved with swimming: “There are about 10 people who drown every day in the U.S., and we’re not calling to outlaw swimming.”

Don't miss any update on this topic

Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.

Sign up for free

License and Republishing

World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

Stay up to date:

Global Health

Share:
The Big Picture
Explore and monitor how Global Health is affecting economies, industries and global issues
World Economic Forum logo

Forum Stories newsletter

Bringing you weekly curated insights and analysis on the global issues that matter.

Subscribe today

These collaborations are already tackling climate-driven health risks but more can be done to find solutions

Fernando J. Gómez and Elia Tziambazis

December 20, 2024

Investing in children’s well-being: The urgent need for expanded mental health and psychosocial support funding

About us

Engage with us

  • Sign in
  • Partner with us
  • Become a member
  • Sign up for our press releases
  • Subscribe to our newsletters
  • Contact us

Quick links

Language editions

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Sitemap

© 2024 World Economic Forum