There has been a great deal of information in the mainstream media lately about the long-term dangers of concussions for professional football players. Several high-profile NFL stars have had their brains examined after their death, with the results revealing severe cases of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Now, studies have shown that military veterans could face those same health risks as a result of the repeated head trauma they often face in overseas operations.
Although there currently is not any way to diagnose CTE while a patient is still alive, there are certain signs that doctors believe can lead to the condition. The brain might have abnormal binding in certain areas under the brain’s surface, or there could be abnormal accumulations of certain types of proteins.
The study was performed at UCLA, and compared the living brains of 14 former athletes that are believed to have CTE, 24 patients that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and two ex-soldiers to a control group of 28 people who have not suffered any brain injuries.
The results have led to a belief in some experts that the types of blasts and energy jolts that are considered common in warfare may be creating a form of CTE that slightly differs from that commonly seen in athletes’ brains. This variety has been referred to as the “blast-variant” version of CTE, and it could be causing some of the debilitating effects often seen in veterans who display symptoms of severe brain injuries.
According to information from the Brain Trauma Foundation, anywhere between 10 and 20 percent of veterans from Iraq are suffering from traumatic brain disorders. If you or a loved one is among that group, meet with a compassionate Bradenton injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh to learn more about your options.