The Correlations Between Concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in the National Football League: Why Does Society Keep Promoting Sports With High CTE Rates?

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 16; no. 7; p. e64359
• Main Authors: Zamzam, Mazen, Sinan, Kenan, Mohilldean, Hashem, Hasan, Sazid, Saleh, Ehab S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 11-07-2024; Cureus
• Subjects: Brain research; Chronic traumatic encephalopathy; Collaboration; Concussion; Head injuries; Helmets; High school football; Legal medicine; Medicine; National libraries; Neurodegeneration; Neurology; Orthopedics; Pathology; Proteins; Sports injuries; Sports Medicine; Trauma; sports-related concussion; national football league; concussion; sport injury; helmet use; orthopedic surgery
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.64359

The National Football League (NFL) is a highly popular sport in the United States, attracting numerous aspiring athletes due to its lucrative pay and fame. However, the pursuit of a career in the NFL comes with significant health risks, particularly concussions and their long-term effects. Repeated head traumas in the NFL can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by a spectrum ranging from cognitive and behavioral aberrations and has been linked to conditions such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Despite growing evidence, NFL officials have historically downplayed the connection between concussions and CTE, attributing symptoms to other factors such as performance-enhancing drugs. To address the concussion crisis, the NFL has implemented rule changes and partnered with engineers to develop safer helmets. However, the most effective approach to combating CTE involves early detection through MRI brain scans, which are a potential method for identifying the disease in living patients and subsequently facilitating early intervention. While other contact sports such as boxing have been shown to increase the risk of traumatic brain injury as well as CTE, the impact the NFL has on CTE is the most prominent in today's society. This editorial emphasizes the need for the NFL to acknowledge the clear link between concussions and CTE and to invest in comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies such as new monoclonal antibody therapies. Despite ethical and technical challenges, such as the use of embryonic stem cells and the risks associated with radioactive scans, advancing these methods could save lives and improve the long-term health outcomes of current and former NFL players. Enhanced understanding and proactive management of CTE are crucial for mitigating the severe impact of concussions in professional football.