Terry Bradshaw's Memory Loss Brings Up Taboo Subject for NFL

Terry Bradshaw's recent announcement about memory loss resulting from numerous head traumas (concussions) during his illustrious National Football League (NFL) football career, brings up a taboo subject not talked about enough in football circles - Dementia (Alzheimer's). Much is known about the head injuries suffered by football players but little has been done to remedy the situation. And admittedly, there is no actual remedy as football is what it is: a contact sport. What can be done is reduce the severity and damage caused by football collisions. But, first we need to talk about it.

As an advocate for the Alzheimer's Association and also an avid enthusiast and former player of football, this twists and turns in my head but in the end, health needs to trump sports.

Head traumas = Alzheimer's

The sad truth about Bradshaw is actually a common occurrence in the football ranks, especially in the NFL. 60% of former NFL players have suffered at least one concussion during their career (source - NPR.com). A study by the University of North Carolina established that more than one in five professional players who had multiple concussions stated they have depression, which is three times higher than those players who didn't have head traumas. In 2009, the NFL commissioned its own report (source - Alzheimer's Association) done by the University of Michigan and found players in their 30s and 40s had a nineteen times greater rate for Alzheimer's than non-players. Yes, 19 times greater!

New England linebacker Ted Johnson (who has three Super Bowl rings) is 34 years old and has early onset Alzheimer's. This subject can't remain taboo any longer.

Congress had committee hearings on head traumas in football and has had harsh statements for the NFL. But all of those in football, from Pop Warner on up, are at fault for doing little to nothing about head injuries. No new standard has been updated for football helmets in over three decades. About 40 years ago, after too many deaths during the 1960s, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) was formed to set a standard for helmets to be implemented throughout the 1970s. Deaths were reduced but since 1980, no new testing or revisions have been made. Earlier this year, the NOCSAE had stated that they would look into updating and improving football helmet standards.

"What we're in is a national denial"

The problem is no one will come forth and say what needs to be said. As Michael Wilbon of ESPN wrote: "What we're in is a national denial". And the dirty little secret is that not only are concussions a big problem but excessive hits over an extended period of time - without having a concussion - can also lead to Dementia. Players received 150 impacts per week and 1500 per year with hits registering 40 times the force of gravity (G's) as reported (source - Purdue University). Research also showed a high school football player sustained a hit registering 300 times G's but did not show any symptoms of a concussion! Only sophisticated measurements by brain scanners can pick this up. It's calculated that twice as many concussions occur than are reported.

On your own for answers?

So it remains an open-ended state-of-affairs with no definitive answers. Boxing had its heyday in the 20^th Century but when deaths and facts came out, the sport got safer even if its popularity has waned. Alzheimer's Association has done a good job of getting the word out stating the risk factors involved plus there are some things you can do to help prevent or reduce traumas. For now, people are on their own about finding out what matters.

Terry Bradshaw is 62 and will likely fade away from the limelight as he tries to slow the dementia down. Alzheimer's is a hideous disease of which there is no cure. Football can take command and do the right thing, making dementia no longer a taboo subject. Either they can be proactive with their approach or more NFL stars will be taken from us.

Additional source - Christopher Nowinski