Both amateur and professional football players are struggling to understand how their time playing football has caused them to suffer long-term neurological damage. While a number of studies have looked into how to help these players, very few studies have looked at concussions in young players. Now, researchers from Boise State University have teamed up with St. Luke’s Hospital to try and understand how younger players are affected.
In a recently released study, researchers looked at the flow of fluid across white matter tracks in the brain in young football players both pre and post season. Researchers wanted to look at white matter because it serves as a communication path, similar to an electrical wire, between the brain and spinal cord. White matter is crucial for motor control, and when it is healthy, fluid flows in a single direction down the communication path. When a person suffers a concussion, however, the swelling caused in the brain can disrupt these paths, which in turn disrupts the flow of fluid. By examining the flow of fluid, researchers were able to better understand head injuries. The study found a concerning pattern among the football players. As the magnitude of hits increased, the player usually had a greater diffusion of fluid in the left cingulate cortex.
While a better understanding of concussions in young player can greatly help improve the safety of the sport and prevent long-term injuries, many former football players are already suffering from their time spent on the field. Hundreds of former NCAA football players are seeking to hold the organization responsible for not doing enough to protect them from the dangers of concussions. Some of these players began experiencing neurological symptoms while still playing football, but for many the first signs did not appear until long after their last game.
NCAA Concealed Concussion Dangers
Studies linking concussions sustained while playing football to long-term conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and ALS have existed for decades. Despite this evidence, the NCAA did not adopt concussion protocols that could have lessened the long-term effects until 2010. The NCAA also failed to educated student athletes about the dangers of concussions. As the organization overseeing the health and wellbeing of its student players, the NCAA had a responsibility to them to protect them from harm incurred on the field. Instead, the NCAA chose to put profits first.
Join The NCAA Concussion Lawsuit
Raizner Law is representing former collegiate football players in their fight against the NCAA. If you would like to learn about your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation to learn about filing an NCAA concussion lawsuit.
