Psych Neurological Diseases - NFL League of Denial Test

Steve Fairnaru & Mark Fanaru-Wada

Co-wrote the book League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis and its corresponding Frontline documentary, which exposed the National Football League's efforts to deny the link between football and brain damage.

Mike Webster

NFL player, died at 50 of heart disease but had a destroyed body from football, his favorite weapon on the field was his head, became angry, impatient, confused, miserable, couldn’t sleep/function, living in his truck - first NFL player brain that Omalu found CTE in and catalyzed whole movement

Dr. Bennet Omalu

found evidence of CTE in Mike Websters brain, told NFL and was attacked, asked to retract research, and publicly defamed- posed big threat to NFL bc if even 10% of moms through football was too dangerous the sport would end

Roger Goodell

NFL commissioner since 2006, after Tagliabue, denies connection between NFL concussions/head trauma and CTE, doesnt respond directly (puts it on doctors) - portecting the NFL’s profitability at any cost - compared to Big Tobacco hiding health risks

Dr. Anne McKee

Boston University asked her to build on Omalu’s work, Nowinski had connections to get NFL brains for her to examine - couldnt answer what specifically causes CTE or how many players had it and was criticized for having a limited and self selecting data set that confounded her data - 45 out of 46 brains shes examined have had CTE

Junior Seau

NFL Player, 20yrs as a linebacker with a mantra to sacrifice his body, began acting irradicably (domestic abuse, drove car off a cliff, gambling, alcoholism) eventually committed suicide and his autopsy originally by Omalu then taken away to NIH revealed CTE - brought lots of media attention to CTE

CTE

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head (concussions). includes behavioral, mood and thinking problems. gets worse over time and can result in dementia

Brain Bank

Neurologist Dr. McKee at Boston University is studying CTE.

NFL Congressional Hearing

NFL was questioned about head-injuries and brain trauma in football - released a report in 2016 finding that the NFL engaged in an “improper, behind-the-scenes campaign” to influence a government-funded brain-injury study in response to non-answers from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell

• NFL gave BU medical center 1 million dollars in the wake of major public scrutiny of the NFL’s handling of brain injuries but the donation came with conditions, donor input, and potential for influence

Commissioners of NFL

• Paul Tagliabue: denied concussions being a problem but created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee to appease, appointed rheumatologist Pellman who was a biased team doctor to lead it - blamed “pack journalism”

• Roger Goodell: initially kept denial going, then faced with evidence ostracized and excluded key scientists (Omalu),  position shifted in 2016 when a top executive publicly acknowledged the link between head trauma and CTE

BU UNITE Brain Bank Research Focus

• Collection of post-mortem brains (and spinal cord / eyes) from athletes, military personnel, others who had repetitive head trauma.

• Neuropathological examination to identify CTE (and other neurodegenerative changes) in those brains.

• Studies to develop a test for diagnosing CTE in living persons, as well as investigating genetic risk factors, environmental factors, age at first exposure to head impacts, duration of career, etc

Parkinson’s Disease

caused by a death of dopamine producing neurons (which helps control movement)

• tremors, muscle stiffness, slow movements, poor balance/coordination, difficulty speaking/swallowing

treated by medication, deep brain stimulation, physical therapy/exercise, no cure

Alzheimer’s Disease

• Cause: Buildup of amyloid plaques and tau tangles that damage brain cells.

• Risk factors: Old age, genetics, head injury, poor heart health.

• Brain effect: Shrinking of the brain, especially memory areas.

• Symptoms: Memory loss, confusion, behavior and personality changes.

Schizophrenia

• Cause: Mix of genetics, brain chemistry (dopamine imbalance), and environment.

• Symptoms: Hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, flat emotions.

• Brain effect: Changes in frontal and temporal lobes; disrupted communication between brain region

Depression

• Cause: Low levels of mood-related chemicals (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine).

• Brain effect: Reduced activity in hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex.

• Symptoms: Persistent sadness, fatigue, loss of interest, trouble concentrating.

BU Research Flaws

• Biased samples — most brains are from athletes already showing CTE symptoms.

• CTE can only be confirmed after death.

• Needs more diverse, long-term studies to apply findings to all athletes.