Litigation

NFL Acknowledges Long Term Effects of Concussions and Commits One Million Dollars to Brain Injury Research

By Michael Kaplen

Following years of denial, the NFL has finally acknowledged that concussions can have long lasting effects.  This acknowledgment comes as the National Football League also announced a donation of One Million Dollars to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at the University of Boston. 

According to the Times article, "the recent changes by the N.F.L. had amounted to tacit acknowledgments that it was no longer able to defend a position that conflicted with nearly all scientific understanding of head trauma."

The study group, is looking at the brains of deceased athletes to determine the prevalence of brain damage following years of multiple concussions.

The work of the Boston University group has already provided some of the most compelling evidence of football?s long-term effects on the brain. All 11 retired players examined for chronic traumatic encephalopathy ? an exceedingly rare disorder caused by concussive and subconcussive blows to the head ? have been found to have the disease, which is associated with early-onset dementia, emotional disturbances and drug abuse.

These announcements come as Congress prepares for more hearings on the NFL and its approach to concussions in early January.

Now, it's time that the NFL and it's players committee take a look at the disability program and how this fund as consistently denied benefits to brain injured players despite overwhelming evidence of permanent brain damage as a result of the post concussion syndrome.

You can read the full article in the New York Times.

Full post as published by Brain Injury News and Information on December 22, 2009 (boomark / email).