Dementia rates much higher for ex-NFL players
I’m a football fan, but this is serious business. The industry as a whole — from the NFL down to the PeeWee leagues — is going to have to address it through rules changes, medical changes and equipment changes. I’ve long wondered whether part of the answer might be softer equipment — fewer and softer pads, etc. — because in the modern game they’ve become less like protective devices and more like weapons to use against the opponent.
When a survey commissioned by the National Football League recently indicated that dementia or similar memory-related diseases had been diagnosed in its retired players vastly more often than in the national population, the league claimed the study was unreliable.
But confidential data from the N.F.L.’s dementia assistance plan strongly corroborates claims of a link between football and later-life cognitive impairment. Records indicate that pro football’s retirees are experiencing moderate to advanced early-onset dementia at rates several times higher than the general population, the most glaring evidence to date of the dangers of professional football in past eras.
According to the story, the data indicate dementia rates among football players that are four to five times higher than those for the average male. Legally, morally and commercially, those are numbers the league has to address with some seriousness.
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194 comments Add your comment
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
October 24th, 2009
9:05 am
I didn’t know that Obozo, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm, played football.
Bob the Slob
October 24th, 2009
9:11 am
Obama does a poor imitation of a tough guy.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
October 24th, 2009
9:12 am
Legally, morally and commercially, those are numbers the league has to address with some seriousness.
I wonder what long term damage is being done to minority populations resulting from crack cocaine usage and senseless violence, seeing how the state run media never wants to broach the subject.
But then again, it isn’t like any government laws against using drugs has ever worked.
david wayne osedach
October 24th, 2009
9:13 am
Their astronomical pay checks make up for the little ‘added risk’ of dementia.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
October 24th, 2009
9:18 am
The “Bailout” banks strike back-
A House committee Friday announced subpoenas for documents related to Countrywide Financial Corp.’s VIP program, which offered preferential treatment to well-connected or powerful mortgage customers.
The probe, which involves demands for information from Wells Fargo, Bank of America (which now owns Countrywide), JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, GMAC’s Residential Capital and U.S. Bank, will try to determine if the companies “employed deceptive and predatory lending practices, or improper tactics to thwart regulation,” he said.- Urinal
The AJC may be able to hide Chris Dodd’s name today but tomorrow….
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
9:21 am
TnGelding…
Left you a message on the Cheney thread…
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
October 24th, 2009
9:22 am
Illiterate democrats want to gin up populist rage over some trivial issue like “bonuses” and executive pay, dragging hapless wealth producers into the public opinion docket and parading them around like hostages, while they ignore and/ or cover up all of the major disasters they caused themselves.
Good for the banks, let’s bring all of this filthy mayhem out into the sunlight and disinfect it.
jconservative
October 24th, 2009
9:27 am
Not a national problem but a problem that I would think the NFL Players Association would address even if the League wants to sweep it under the carpet.
But most people would ignore the risk for the money. Just like most druggies ignore the risk for the high. Limbaugh, for example, ignoring the risk not only to his health but his career, just for the high. Barry Bonds ignoring the risk of his long term career just for a chance at a record. Smokers (’nuff said).
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
9:29 am
At the risk of being called a granola head wimp and a heretic to the religion of my much beloved South, it’s pretty hard to work up a lot of sympathy for folks who make a career out of gladiatorial head bashing. And, no, I’m not out to ban the sport and yes I do think Jay makes some valid points here.
RW-(the original)
October 24th, 2009
9:36 am
Didn’t you just know some granola head wimp would come in here whining about football?
”
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
9:36 am
jconservative–
Ah, yes, the smokers! Got our annual witch hunt memo from downtown on what will happen if you get caught taking a puff behind the gym with the attendant “role modelling” for the kids. This came from a pack of lard a**es porting around an extra hundred or so pounds in front of the children to role model a healthy life style. And what of the internal combustion engine? Don’t we ignore that risk, too? It all comes down, in the long run, to the Nanny State and an essential pick and choose which sin we’ll preach our sermon of repent and redemption on. And, no, I’m not a smoker.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
October 24th, 2009
9:39 am
In her endorsement of Hoffman Thursday night, Palin sounded a clear anti-party tone, writing that Hoffman was the candidate that “stands for the principles that all Republicans should share.”
“Political parties must stand for something. When Republicans were in the wilderness in the late 1970s, Ronald Reagan knew that the doctrine of ‘blurring the lines’ between parties was not an appropriate way to win elections,” Palin wrote in a statement on her Facebook page. “Republicans and conservatives around the country are sending an important message to the Republican establishment in their outstanding grassroots support for Doug Hoffman: no more politics as usual.” -Politico
We do not need another Olympia Snowe.
If the people of New York or Maine want a pinko, let them elect a democrat.
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
9:40 am
RW–
Hey! You will note, however, that I didn’t claim not to watch it!
RW-(the original)
October 24th, 2009
9:47 am
josef,
I just wanted to try out the “granola head wimp” line. I’d never heard that one. I bet this study, if carried out to it’s logical conclusion rather than just stopping at the equipment and nature of the game, would show that those predisposed to play football at it’s highest levels are also predisposed to acquiring dementia.
Taxpayer
October 24th, 2009
10:02 am
Just say no to placebos — the GOP.
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
10:05 am
RW
Kinda liked the line myself, it being somewhat apt for certain party line adherents!
As for the predisposition to dementia, I think you’ve got a point there, I mean, I’m not opposed to a beer joint brawl or two to relieve the stress, but all these rules, regulations, penalties and what have you just sorta takes the fun out of it.
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
10:07 am
Taxpayer–
AND the Dems…
Both resemble nothing quite so much as a travelling medicine show…
Taxpayer
October 24th, 2009
10:11 am
josef,
But mine was a spoof on the GOP’s “Just Say No to drugs.” Did the Dems have an equivalent feel good program?
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
10:13 am
Taxpayer–
The Dems ARE a feel good program!
AmVet
October 24th, 2009
10:15 am
The answer of course, is to disband their union.
C’mon conned! When are you gonna teabag the NFL player’s union?
Your Glorious Leader, The Out of the Closet Bigot, The Manteats in Black, already “believes” they are out to get him!
Damn unions, ruining everything…
Taxpayer
October 24th, 2009
10:16 am
The Dems ARE a feel good program!
For real, dude.
DoggoneGA
October 24th, 2009
10:20 am
“would show that those predisposed to play football at it’s highest levels are also predisposed to acquiring dementia.”
It would also be interesting to know the dementia rates of the players of games like Australian Rules football and Rugby.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
October 24th, 2009
10:21 am
Bunch of wimps. Always trying to keep us from having some fun so we can live longer and pay more taxes. They want to tax candy and Coke and charge us more for insurance if we’re fat. Next thing you know they won’t even let us give guns to our six year olds at Christmas. Which they’re at war against, by the way.
Have a good weekend everybody.
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
10:23 am
AmVet…
The MCU (Malcontent Curmudgeons United) will be holding an (dis)organizational meeting at my place…
Dementia rates much higher for Journalism Majors too
October 24th, 2009
10:24 am
Dementia rates much higher for Journalism Majors too as a result of pounding their heads on the desk asking “why didn’t I think of that witty comment.” Slow moving Jay, you still have not removed the “Copyright violation” comments from yesterday, as you said you would. Too bad you didn’t think to write the story about Jefferson County’s sewer bond disaster and draw parallels to Atlanta’s sewer problems. Scooped by a New York web site, again….ROFLOL
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
10:30 am
Dementia–
You ain’t real fond of journalism majors, ‘er ye!
Doggone–
Kinda makes you wonder about the testosterone levels, too, eh?
Redneck–why you waitin’ so long to give Little Bubba his first gun?
Kamchak
October 24th, 2009
10:42 am
60 Minutes did this story on Oct.11
Gov Option Done Deal!
October 24th, 2009
10:43 am
Dementia rates are much higher for all levels of football through high school where the quaterback takes significant hits from refrigerator sized linemen who get faster over the years. The intent is to get the quaterback out of the game via head injury. Pro football is a violent, profitable sport with intrinsic significant controcoup and other brain injuries in it. Joe Maroon,M.D. a neurosurgeon who is was an all American in college who has helped head up caring for the Steelers for many years at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg, has been studying this for years. Joe and his collegues have been publishing their results in JAMA and other journals over the last 20 years, and all of them have confirmed the NYT article Jay cites above.
RW-(the original)
October 24th, 2009
10:44 am
I bet the dementia rate for 60 Minute corespondents is much higher than that of NFLers.
AmVet
October 24th, 2009
10:44 am
josef, count me in.
To wit, for my misnamed conservative, chest pounding countrymen and promulgators of worldwide violence and the fascist quo.
Your theme song…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCv2MHijyzE&feature=related
Jay
October 24th, 2009
10:49 am
Racket, did you play a lot of football as a kid?
I mean, without the helmet?
Because all of those posts in question were taken down immediately yesterday and remain down.
Furthermore, the AJC has run repeated stories about the Birmingham scandal, including but not at alll limited to:
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/prosecutor-birmingham-mayor-took-166928.html
http://www.ajc.com/eveningedge/content/printedition/2008/12/02/birmingham.html
stands for decibels
October 24th, 2009
10:50 am
My dad played high school football back on the line-up-wherever-the-ball-was-spotted, leather helmet days.
He told me once, not that long ago, of a very bright kid he knew who took a serious shot to the head and “never was the same afterward”. He didn’t go to college, worked a respectable enough job but lived a decidedly blue-collar/working class life after that game.
After stopping to soak this in, I asked him “well, I guess you have to ask yourself if it was worth it? worth playing the game?”
And my dad, who is if anything more contemplative and willing to second-guess himself than I am, was flummoxed by my question. He did his best Ralph Kramden “hammitah hammitah” and said “well of course it was worth it.”
this goes a long way toward explaining, I think, why otherwise conservative / free market / Libber-topian types are ok with Gubmint providing the NFL with a subsidized farm team system via college football. This ’splains a lot about America, good and bad, I guess.
Gov Option Done Deal!
October 24th, 2009
10:53 am
The neuropathology lesions in the 60 minutes story aren’t surprising. Different people have been reporting brain injuries for years. The doc featured on 60 minutes is hardly the first.
Given the trophy wives and the big salaries all of us are used to seeing with active NFL players who aren’t geniuses who carry loaded guns into nightclubs and then shoot themselves in the leg and into prison like Plexico, it’s a little bit amazing how badly some of them end up sick and with no money and some with of course no health insurance in the effed up medical climate in the US.
stands for decibels
October 24th, 2009
10:55 am
Shorter Wingers–
“60 Minutes Am Evil! and Dan Rather Am Eviller!!!11!!!”
wet wiccan
October 24th, 2009
10:57 am
Everything comes with a price. Professional athletes make a ton of money and with endorsement contracts even more. But even with protective gear, their bodies take an enormous beating. When they retire, their knees are shot, baseball players live with pain in their shoulders and arms, and professional boxers, well . . Muhamed Ali? I think they all know what they are signing on for. I guess they think it is worth it.
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:01 am
Jay–
Egg him on!
‘Sides, he’s taken a great weight off my mind. Here I was thinking I might have alzheimer’s and turns out it’s ’cause I grew up in the newsroom!
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:05 am
wet wiccan and doggone–
BTW One of my co-workers gave me a copy of Twain’s “Adam’s and Eve’s Diaries.” Probably why I’m in such a good mood today! (That and that video of “My Generation!” Pulled it up again this a.m. to start my do nothing day!)
DoggoneGA
October 24th, 2009
11:11 am
“One of my co-workers gave me a copy of Twain’s “Adam’s and Eve’s Diaries”
My favorite Twain book is “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc”
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:17 am
Doggone
“My favorite Twain book is “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc””
I need to go and re-read it. It’s a side of Twain never seen elsewhere.
Dusty
October 24th, 2009
11:17 am
Well, after skimming the last few days of Bad lil boys Body Parts, Cheney in Cahoots, sqawky music and the Virgin Mary, I am glad the experts on dementia present their experiences here.
Yes, it is a nice change. Football! Famous since Cave Man tossed Cave Boy a nice rock and he ran with it. for a Cave Down. Just ask AmVet if you don’t believe it. He was there!!
But..sorry for the interruption….carry on. Remember …the classy sport is BASEBALL. No dementia there. Just clubs, balls and hamstrings….but nothing is perfect.
Keep the helmets on all liberals. Most of them seemed to have played football (except Bosch who bounced balls off his head for fun!). Even Michelle can do 140 houla hoops!! Now, that takes talent and no brain damage!!…
wet wiccan
October 24th, 2009
11:17 am
josef – good morning to you too. I’m glad you are in a better mood today. Gladiator sports like MMA and WWF I just do not get, and I cannot stand to watch them. Dog fighting, cock fighting, NO. How do you feel about bullfights? Art form? or blood lust?
doggone – was that you earlier in the week asking if anyone ever felt like pulling out their hair and running screaming thru the streets? Call me crazy, but sometimes I burst into song ala Babe the Pig, LA LA LA LA LA LA LA it helps me get rid of nervous energy. HA HA
I Report (-: You Whine )-: Ate Up With Envy mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
October 24th, 2009
11:22 am
The most recent whine – the anti-Fox campaign – is, apart from anything else, unbecoming to the office. President Obama is the chief of state of one of the oldest free societies in the world, but his official White House Web site runs teasers such as: “For even more Fox lies, check out the latest ‘Truth-O-Meter.’” It gives off the air of somebody only marginally less paranoid than this week’s president-for-life in some basket-case banana republic ranting on the palace balcony because his interior security chief isn’t doing a fast-enough job of disappearing his enemies. – Mark Steyn
You sure that was the most recent whine?
Seems like there has been quite a few lately, mmm, mmmm, mmmmm!
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:24 am
Hey Dusty! Glad to see you. Thought maybe you had run afoul of the Evil Moderator! (How’s that for allusion) Was thinking of you last night in the discussion.
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:26 am
Racket…
Quo vadis?
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:32 am
Saw this last night and thought of you…
http://www.shoesofthefisherman.com/
Dusty
October 24th, 2009
11:36 am
Hello JOSEF,
Always enjoy your presence. Saw the Virgin Mary discussion last night. Didn’t get into it. When the discussions gets beyond faith and MUST have perfect facts which cannot be found, I decide I can spend my time doing something better. Not the scholarly approach but after a time, one has to decide what is important in their own life. As you know (you always know, josef)Lutherans/Christians enjoy the promise of grace extended to all. So I will stop there and make a forward pass to football. Catch!!
josef nix
October 24th, 2009
11:41 am
ANYBODY remember what happened 80 years ago today?
Dusty–
As EMS would say, I’m still straddling the 50 yard line!
RW-(the original)
October 24th, 2009
11:46 am
ANYBODY remember what happened 80 years ago today?
Hmmmm…78 years ago today Al Capone was sentenced for tax evasion but I guess that can’t be it. I’ll go with Belgium princess Marie-Jose and Italian crown prince Umberto gets engaged, assassination attempt on Umberto fails….or maybe Black Thursday.
Dusty
October 24th, 2009
11:46 am
JOSEF!!!!!!
I am ordering me a pair of Jesus Loves Me Sandals pronto!! The guy running that business needs all the help he can get. I think he played football many years.
By the way, who is Racket? I must have missed him. He seems “popular”. Jay keeps mentioning him. Another postpartum football player?
RW-(the original)
October 24th, 2009
11:47 am
As EMS would say, I’m still straddling the 50 yard line!
josef,
I think EM’sWB has you straddling the sideline.