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CTE found in deceased 25 year old - BengalHawk62 - 01-07-2016
Some highlights of article linked:
"When Keck died two years ago, at 25, those 16 years had left his brain brittle and deformed, pockmarked with the clumps of protein characteristic of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The disease, researchers reported this week, was the worst they'd seen in someone so young.
"It was quite widespread," Dr. Ann McKee, co-author on a study of Keck's brain in the journal JAMA Neurology, told NBC News. (The study does not name Keck, but he has been identified in news outlets.)
...A young man, in the prime of his life, newly married, had everything to look forward to. Yet, this disease is destroying his brain."
CTE can only be diagnosed after death, so it is rare when scientists are able to study its effects in someone as young as Keck. He is the youngest person to be definitively diagnosed with the disease, and McKee said its presence offers insight into how concussions affect young athletes, even ones who never play professionally.
He also grew up tough. Keck began playing tackle football at age 6, and before long he was an expert at playing through pain.
By high school, many thought the tall, broad blond could make a career out of football. Everyone in Harrisonville, Mo., expected Keck to go to a big-name college.
But the young man shied away from the limelight, friends told the Star. Though he was offered scholarships at Alabama, Michigan and USC, he opted for Missouri.
During his freshman year, according to Reuters, Keck suffered a blow to the head that left him unconscious. It was not his first such injury — he'd had his first concussion when he was only 8 and had more than 10 in all, according to the Los Angeles Times — but it was the worst. Keck developed painful headaches, neck pain and blurry vision. He was driven to distraction by a constant ringing in his ears. His sleep suffered, his mood darkened. He became anxious and irritable, then violent.
Keck switched to Missouri State after his sophomore year, but wound up playing just one game for the school. Early on the season, he took a massive hit to the side of his head, according to the Star. It was the worst collision he'd endured, and it ended his career.
His wife Cassandra was pregnant and his mind was already beginning to fray. Keck walked into coach Terry Allen's office and told him he'd had enough. He needed to stay healthy for his kid.
Keck died from an unrelated heart condition in 2013. His son, Justin, was 3 years old.
An autopsy of Keck's brain revealed a diagnosis of CTE. The case study published Monday details the pathology of his illness and discusses its ramifications for young athletes. Keck's primary diagnosis is post-concussive syndrome, with secondary diagnoses of depression and CTE.
Researchers at Boston University found that Keck's CTE was as severe as what had been found in the brain of 43-year-old Seau."
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/a-young-life-gone/2260110
RE: CTE found in deceased 25 year old - fredtoast - 01-07-2016
This CTE stuff is very interesting, but it is so new theb research is all over the place. On one hand thay will publish numbers that indoicate that a significant percentage of football players have it, but on the other hand they claimed Frank Gifford had it and he livced a very long, healthy, normal life.
It is a dangerous problem that needs to be addressed, but looking at the number of guys who have played football over the last 75 years it is clear that there is not an "epidemic" of CTE cases.
RE: CTE found in deceased 25 year old - BengalHawk62 - 01-07-2016
(01-07-2016, 01:57 PM)fredtoast Wrote: This CTE stuff is very interesting, but it is so new theb research is all over the place. On one hand thay will publish numbers that indoicate that a significant percentage of football players have it, but on the other hand they claimed Frank Gifford had it and he livced a very long, healthy, normal life.
It is a dangerous problem that needs to be addressed, but looking at the number of guys who have played football over the last 75 years it is clear that there is not an "epidemic" of CTE cases.
I agree. I don't think there is this "epidemic" the media wants to try to create either. But at the same time, I think its something that really needs to be addressed more often. Back when I played football, whenever we got a hard hit, it was called 'getting our bell rung', sat out a few plays and then came back in. At the end of the day though, these professional players know there is a risk to playing football, this is just one of those risks like breaking a bone, blowing out a knee, back pain, etc, etc, etc.
RE: CTE found in deceased 25 year old - RoyleRedlegs - 01-07-2016
Football players don't generally die any younger than the rest of the population.
If you use the CTE reasoning for why they die younger like some do, then you have to accept the notion that playing at any level with risk of concussions would decrease your life span.
So those who play in the NFL should live shorter than those who only played through college. And those who played in college should live shorter than those who only played through high school....
RE: CTE found in deceased 25 year old - Yojimbo - 01-08-2016
(01-07-2016, 03:31 PM)RoyleRedlegs Wrote: Football players don't generally die any younger than the rest of the population.
If you use the CTE reasoning for why they die younger like some do, then you have to accept the notion that playing at any level with risk of concussions would decrease your life span.
So those who play in the NFL should live shorter than those who only played through college. And those who played in college should live shorter than those who only played through high school....
CTE doesn't just happen when there's a concussion with visible symptoms. Damage to the brain that leads to CTE happens during every impact to the head.
RE: CTE found in deceased 25 year old - Bengalsrob - 01-09-2016
Sure it's an occupational hazard, but it's a risk/reward thing you have to weigh in any occupation from heights of construction workers to the stress on many jobs. Media wants you to start feeling sorry and throw more money at people who make more in a year than most do in a lifetime. If anybody looked for it, you'd probably find it in a ton of people even farmers hit their heads on various things many times over the years...and they don't sit out concussion protocol periods either.
RE: CTE found in deceased 25 year old - fredtoast - 01-09-2016
(01-09-2016, 03:11 PM)Bengalsrob Wrote: Sure it's an occupational hazard, but it's a risk/reward thing you have to weigh in any occupation from heights of construction workers to the stress on many jobs. Media wants you to start feeling sorry and throw more money at people who make more in a year than most do in a lifetime. If anybody looked for it, you'd probably find it in a ton of people even farmers hit their heads on various things many times over the years...and they don't sit out concussion protocol periods either.
But why risk something that you can prevent?
it is like saying coal miners should have to breath bad air because it comes with the job.