New Research Confirms College Football Players Have Same Risk of CTE as ProsThe ongoing efforts of research into traumatic brain injury have brought concussions, traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy into the spotlight over the past few years. In March, we wrote about a milestone in which the NFL publicly acknowledged that football players are at higher risk of developing the degenerative brain disease. Today, we’re talking about another milestone; alumni players on more than 100 college football teams have been diagnosed with the CTE.

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Concussion is the mildest form of traumatic brain injury. An external trauma causes a minor disruption in normal brain function. Thanks to a self-healing property of the brain known as plasticity, concussions often resolve on their own and don’t require medical treatment. However, they do require rest. Some research has shown that incurring a second concussion without allowing the first to heal can cause significant brain damage. Suffering multiple concussions without sufficient rest over time leads to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, in which brain damage is not only severe but becomes worse over time.

The Daily Maily reported:

“The research, which was compiled by the CLF

[Concussion Legacy Foundation] in partnership with Boston University and the Veterans Association, suggests the condition is as likely to occur among non-professional athletes as it is in NFL stars, said experts. ‘This information is being released to raise awareness that CTE is not just an issue for professional football players, said Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation. ‘The data should not be interpreted to say that players from these schools are at greater risk than other college players. Instead, the data shows the widespread reach of this disease, and the commitment by the alumni and their families of these schools to support CTE research by participating in brain donation.’”

Know the risk

This new data confirms the message that experts have been sending since the beginning; all players, at all levels, are at risk of developing CTE. If your child plays college football, you should talk about the risks of playing and the signs and symptoms of concussion and brain damage. CTE doesn’t usually manifest until much later in life, and there is no test. The disease is as devastating as it is silent.

If your loved one has been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after playing contact sports or after an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and continuing care. The experienced Nashville traumatic brain injury attorneys at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. Call 615.246.5549, visit our offices in Nashville, Gallatin or Knoxville, or contact us today for a free consultation.