The Concussion Crisis

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The Concussion Crisis Page 39

by Linda Carroll


  Neurological Institute of, 200–201

  coma, 13, 17, 32, 74–75, 81, 86, 206

  computer games, 93

  computer models, three-dimensional, 147–48

  concentrating, difficulty in, 6, 65, 87, 95, 117, 128, 174, 274, 278

  Concord, Mass., 12–16

  concussion management, 15, 33, 44, 56, 129, 133, 246, 250, 257, 259–64, 273–75

  new NFL policies for, 248–49, 255–56, 261–62, 263–65

  recovery time in, 6–7, 15–16, 26, 34, 36–37

  see also return-to-play decisions

  concussions:

  cumulative effects of, 7, 54, 68, 127, 191, 193, 210, 215, 218, 223

  definition of, 10–11, 15, 48

  as dingers and bellringers, xii, 2, 6, 10, 25, 37, 47–48, 131

  education on, xi–xii, 31–32, 103, 118, 138–39, 255–58, 260, 264, 273, 275

  estimated annual number of, xii, 11

  failed recognition of, 57, 65

  force of impact threshold for, 259, 260

  formal identification date of, 11

  incidence of, 26, 27, 30, 48, 56–57, 64–65

  long-term consequences of, 12, 158, 245, 246, 247, 250–53, 256, 273–74, 274–75

  media coverage of, 133

  public consciousness about, 270

  regarded as benign and transient, 10, 11, 25, 36–37, 44, 46, 47–48, 102, 116, 128, 216, 223, 246

  reporting of, 44, 48, 56–58, 59, 63–64, 249, 258, 271; see also traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), undocumented

  concussion-safety laws, 33–35, 257, 261

  confusion, 10, 60, 117, 181, 183, 187, 254, 277

  Congress, U.S., 244

  House Judiciary Committee hearings in, 252–53, 255, 257

  Connecticut, University of, 114

  Connecticut Sun, 30–31

  consciousness, loss of, 2, 11, 13, 16, 21, 23, 32, 34, 42, 43, 45, 54, 61, 66, 117, 187, 194, 241, 248–49, 254, 262, 277

  Cornell University, 12–14

  Corsellis, Nick, 191–92, 193

  Cranmer, Ron, 183

  Crider, Michael, 99–101

  Critchley, Macdonald, 189–90

  Crosby, Sidney, 271–72

  Cruise, Tom, 43

  Dallas Cowboys, 17–24, 43–44

  Damasio, Hanna, 147–48

  Dartmouth College, 12–14

  Davis, Butch, 260

  deaths, 157, 175–76, 177

  in boxing, 206–7, 210

  in football, 11–14, 15, 16, 49–50, 51, 253, 259

  in ice hockey, 52–53

  from second-impact syndrome, 15, 16, 245, 251, 253

  “Decade of the Brain, The,” 161

  Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, 115

  Defense Department, U.S., 115, 118, 119

  DeKosky, Steven, 215, 216

  Delaney, J. Scott, 56–57

  dementia, early-onset, xiii, 220, 238, 245, 246, 247, 252, 256, 258

  dementia pugilistica (punch-drunk syndrome), 178–211, 213, 214–15, 216, 217–19, 233

  Alzheimer’s resemblance to, 177, 185, 192, 205, 211, 231, 232

  brain changes in, 182, 184, 191–92, 193, 230–32

  champions afflicted by, 192–95, 209–11, 231

  as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, 189, 205, 206, 217–18, 244; see also chronic traumatic encephalopathy, football-induced

  coinage of term, 189

  delayed onset of, 208, 209–11, 231

  genetic factors in, 205–6

  medical research on, 185–92, 204–6, 207

  in movies, 192–93, 195, 196

  neurological testing for, 181–82, 190, 199, 208

  prevalence of, 190–91

  progression of, 183–85, 189, 203–4, 210–11

  risk factors for, 189–90, 191, 193, 194, 195, 204–6

  symptoms of, 181, 183, 184, 185, 186–88, 189, 190, 192, 193

  see also Parkinson’s disease

  Dempsey, Jack, 185, 186, 187, 188

  depression, 20, 54, 65, 82, 83–84, 107, 117, 246, 247, 249, 256, 258–59

  in football-induced CTE, 213, 217, 218–19, 223, 224, 225, 227, 240, 258, 274

  diffuse axonal injury, 157–65, 159, 174–77

  accumulated injuries in, 164–65

  amyloid beta generated by, 175–77

  black bulbs of protein formed in, 157–59, 159, 162, 163, 164, 165, 175, 176

  calcium, potassium, and sodium ion exchange in, 165, 170–72

  damaged microtubules in, 162–63, 165, 175

  delayed onset of, 158–59, 160, 163

  electrical current propagation and, 171–72

  fast vs. slow axonal stretch in, 160–65, 163, 175

  in frontal lobes, 174–75

  as lifelong degenerative process, 175–77

  neprilysin and, 176

  rapid acceleration or deceleration in, 159–60, 162

  wavy axons in, 162–63, 165

  disorientation, 3, 10, 28, 40, 134, 183, 190, 254

  dizziness, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 19, 20, 23, 28, 57, 100, 134, 136, 139, 254, 277

  DNA, 205

  dopamine, 199–201

  dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, 174–75

  Doyle, Jimmy, 206–7

  Dronkers, Nina, 151–52

  drooling, 190, 199

  DTI (diffusion tensor imaging), 174–75

  Duerson, Dave, 270–71

  dyslexia, 31

  ears, ringing in, 60, 117, 121, 277

  Education Department, U.S., 103

  Ehrlich, Nathan, 187–88

  88 Plan, 237, 244

  electroencephalograms (EEGs), 61–62, 190, 207, 208

  enriched environment, 167, 168–69

  epilepsy, 6, 62, 96–97, 146, 152–56

  episodic memory, 155

  ESPN, 41, 262

  executive function, 102, 105, 145–46, 148

  dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in, 174–75

  organizational skills in, 77, 87, 88–90, 100, 112, 114

  explosions, see bomb blasts

  facial expression, blank, 187, 188, 200, 202

  facial recognition, impairment of, xii–xiii, 38, 74, 75, 124, 134

  in dementia pugilistica, 183, 184, 193, 194

  Fahn, Stanley, 200–201, 202, 208

  falls, 15, 102, 134–41

  fatigue, 20, 23, 45, 54, 106, 136, 140, 171, 174, 181, 199, 249, 277

  Favre, Brett, 229

  field hockey, 65–66, 256, 263

  fistfights, 13, 14

  fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans, 173–74, 259

  focusing difficulties, 77, 91

  fogginess, mental, 6, 19, 20, 59–60, 128, 133, 277

  football, xiii, 10–27, 31–35, 36–51, 120–41, 220–21

  Camp’s creation of, 49

  cheerleaders for, 134–41

  concussion culture of, 248–54, 262, 263, 264–65, 268–70

  concussion rates in, 48, 56–57, 223

  deaths in, 11–14, 15, 16, 49–50, 51, 253, 259

  early history of, 49–51

  force of impacts in, 259, 260

  helmets in, 43, 50, 51, 221, 259–60, 272

  ImPACT test for, 120–27, 260–61

  macho code of, 5, 27, 35, 39–51, 196

  manliness instilled by, 38–39, 50

  number of players of, 47

  peewee, 36–40, 47, 253, 273

  Pop Warner, 12, 48–49

  post-concussion syndrome in, 1–9, 17–24, 25, 36–51, 220–29, 245, 273–75

  safety rules of, 51

  as war, 42, 49

  football, college, 1, 2, 3–9, 39–40, 47–51, 53, 56–57, 123, 125, 126, 220, 253, 258, 259–61, 275

  All-American, 39, 255

  All-Ivy League, 221

  brutality in, 49–51

  concussion rate in, 56–57

  CTE case in, 258

  deaths in, 11–14, 49–50, 51, 253

  force of impacts in, 259

>   Harvard’s “flying wedge” in, 49, 51

  hit count in, 259

  HITS technology in, 259, 260

  ImPACT software usage in, 260–61

  medical research on, 25–26

  return-to-play decisions in, 13–14, 46, 54, 255, 262

  football, high school, 1, 2–3, 19, 25–27, 31–35, 47–49, 57–58, 120–27, 131, 220–21, 240–41, 250, 259–61

  athletic trainers for, 260–61, 265

  concussion rates in, 48

  deaths in, 15, 16, 253, 259

  hit count in, 259–60

  ImPACT software usage in, 260–61

  number of concussions in, 26–27

  return-to-play decisions in, 12–17, 31, 32, 34, 46, 122–23, 127, 255, 260–61

  football, professional, 17–27, 40–49, 56, 122–24, 125, 128–33, 212–44, 245–54, 273–75

  All-Pro, 268, 269

  average weight of players in, 42

  forced retirements from, 19–20, 22–24, 25, 29–30, 40–41, 44, 46, 124, 129, 131, 245, 249–50, 264, 273, 274–75

  force of impacts in, 42–43, 53, 218

  helmets and faceguards of, 43, 218, 219

  playing with injuries in, 42

  Pop Warner football and, 48–49

  quarterbacks as tackling targets in, 17, 20–24, 43–44, 132–33, 224

  return-to-play decisions in, 42, 44–46, 122–23, 128, 132–33, 246, 248–49, 254, 255, 264–65, 268

  sideline evaluations in, 265

  televised, 40–41, 47, 133, 219, 255–56, 264–65, 273

  violence of, 40–42, 213, 268–70

  see also chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), football-induced; National Football League (NFL)

  Football Hall of Fame, 29–30, 40–41, 129, 212, 235, 238, 255, 264, 274

  Foreman, George, 183, 196–97, 204

  forensic pathologists, 185–89

  see also Omalu, Bennet

  Forrest, Anne, 95–101

  Foster, Bob, 203

  Fox network, 40, 264

  Framingham Heart Study, 229, 233

  Fraser, Kerry, 263

  Frazier, Joe, 178, 179, 180, 183, 184

  Ali’s fights with, 196, 197–98, 201

  frontal lobe damage, 73–74, 88–94, 142–52, 238

  in Broca’s area, 148–52, 150

  case histories of, 143–52

  diffuse axonal injury in, 174–75

  hallmark symptoms of, 92

  personality change and, 145–48, 152

  frontotemporal dementia, 238

  Futch, Eddie, 197

  Gage, Phineas (case history), 143–48, 156

  skull of, 146–48

  genetic factors, 176

  in dementia pugilistica, 205–6

  Gennarelli, Thomas, 159–60, 161

  gestures, communication by, 149, 150

  Glasgow, University of, 157–58

  Gleason, Jackie, 195

  glucose metabolism, 166–67, 171, 172–73

  Goodell, Roger, 237, 244, 248, 252–58, 262, 268

  Gordon, Wayne, 102–8, 115, 118

  Great Britain, 189–91, 207

  Green Bay Packers, 41–42, 229, 251

  Gretzky, Wayne, 55, 271

  Grimsley, John, 232–33

  Grimsley, Virginia, 232–33

  Guskiewicz, Kevin, 25–26, 246, 259–60, 261

  hallucinations, 183

  hand-eye coordination, 105

  Haraldson, Sam, 262

  Harbaugh, Robert, 13–14

  Harlow, John, 144–47

  Harrison, James, 268

  Hartford Hospital, 152–54

  Harvard University, 49–51, 221–22

  “flying wedge” tactic of, 49, 51

  Medical School of, 147, 222

  Warren Anatomical Museum of, 147

  Hauser, Thomas, 200–201

  Hayworth, Rita, 194

  HBO, 243, 247

  headaches, 2, 4, 6, 10, 13, 16, 19, 20, 23, 31, 36–37, 38, 45, 54, 57, 60, 65, 67, 76, 95, 108–14, 128, 134, 137, 174, 221, 222, 232, 254, 274, 277

  Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis (Nowinski), 226

  Henry, Chris, 258

  Herring, Stan, 33–34

  Hill, James, 113

  hippocampus, 143, 153, 192, 233

  as Alzheimer’s site of origin, 215

  neurosurgical destruction of, 152–56

  “hit count” proposal, 258–60

  HITS (Head Impact Telemetry System), 259–60

  “H.M.” (Henry Gustav Molaison), 152–56

  hockey, see field hockey; ice hockey

  Hockey Hall of Fame, 30, 55, 272

  Hoge, Charles, 116–17, 118

  Hoge, Merril, 22, 25, 40, 46, 122, 124

  Holmes, Larry, 199, 201

  homeless people, 108, 212–13

  House of Representatives, U.S., Judiciary Committee hearings of, 252–53, 255, 257

  Houston Oilers, 232

  Hovda, David, 166–73

  Howe, Gordie, 52

  Humphries, Stan, 22

  I Am the Central Park Jogger: A Story of Hope and Possibility (Meili), 101

  ice hockey, 31, 51–56, 57, 233, 263

  bodychecking in, 262–63

  catastrophic head injuries in, 52

  college, 56

  concussion rate in, 56, 263

  deaths in, 52–53

  forced retirements in, 30, 53–56

  force of impact in, 53

  helmets in, 52–53, 54

  neuropsychological testing and, 129, 248

  player size in, 53, 55

  return-to-play guidelines of, 55, 262–63

  women’s, 56

  youth, 53, 56, 263

  ImPACT (Immediate Post-concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), 122–27, 129, 132, 136–37, 138, 139, 141

  incorrect usage of, 260–61

  impact seizures, 6

  improvised explosive devices (IED), 69–71, 76–77, 115, 159

  inhibition, loss of, 102

  insurance providers, 98–99, 235, 261

  Inzitari, Alyssa, 66–67

  Inzitari, Melissa, 58–67

  Iraq War, 68–85, 108–19

  irritability, 20, 65, 110, 111, 117, 134, 189, 277

  Japan, 176

  Jerry Maguire, 43–44

  job loss, 89–90, 91, 97, 101, 102, 112, 118, 212

  jockeys, steeplechase, 247

  Johansson, Ingemar, 209

  Johnson, Ted, 248–50

  Joiner, Liz, 99–100

  Jordan, Barry, 204–6, 208

  Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology, 159, 233

  Journal of Neuroscience, 165

  Journal of the American Medical Association, 14, 26, 188, 205–6, 207

  Kelly, James, 55

  Kennedy, John F., 217

  Kruth, Angelica, 134–41

  Kruth, Doreen, 134–41

  lacrosse, 256

  LaFontaine, Pat, 30, 272

  post-concussion syndrome of, 53–55

  Lancet, 164

  Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, 72–73

  Lane, Tracy, 225

  Lawrence University, 255

  laws, concussion-safety, 33–35, 257, 261

  lawsuits, 17

  malpractice, 15

  L-dopa, 199–200

  learning disabilities, 7–8, 26, 29, 38, 60, 87, 88–89, 133, 138–41, 155, 167–70, 267–68, 277

  special education classes for, 103–7, 167

  viewed as malingering, 138–40

  Leborgne (case history), 148–52, 150

  Lelong (case history), 149–52, 150

  Lenkiewicz, Diane, 121, 125–27

  Lenkiewicz, Mark, 120–27, 131

  Leonard, Sugar Ray, 194, 204

  light sensitivity, 60, 61, 67, 76, 121, 174, 274, 277

  Lindros, Eric, 55–56

  Lipton, Michael, 174–75

  Liston, Sonny, 197, 209

  Little League Bas
eball, 258–59

  lobotomies, 152

  Lombardi, Vince, 41–42, 49, 251

  Long, Terry, 217–19, 220, 224, 225, 227, 232, 234, 246

  Louis, Joe, 193–94, 199

  Lovell, Mark, 120–33, 135–41

  car accident of, 127–28

  career of, 129–33

  ImPACT test developed by, 122–27, 129, 132, 136–37, 138, 139, 141

  Lundberg, George, 207

  Lux, Warren, 115, 116

  Lystedt, Victor, 32, 33, 35

  Lystedt, Zackery, 32–35, 257

  McGill University, 56–57, 154

  McHale, Tom, 250

  macho code, xi, 5, 27, 35, 39–67, 196

  in ice hockey, 51–56

  McKee, Ann, 228–34, 250, 251, 253, 255, 257, 258

  McKee, Charles, 255

  Mackey, John, 234, 235–44

  concussion history of, 238

  NFL players’ union led by, 236, 237, 238

  playing style of, 237–38

  symptoms of, 238–40

  Mackey, Sylvia, 235–44

  NFL lobbied by, 236–37, 243–44

  Madden NFL, 270

  Majewski, Katrina, 65–66

  Malanga, Gerard, 47

  malpractice lawsuits, 15

  Marine Corps, U.S., 108–14

  Marino, Dan, 131

  marital problems, 79, 91–92, 102, 118, 274

  Maroon, Joseph, 122–24, 128, 129, 132–33, 218, 254

  Martin, Tamar, 104–7

  Martland, Harrison, 185–89, 190, 194, 202

  Maryland, 85–94, 235–44

  Rehabilitation Services Division of, 90, 91–93

  Maryland, University of, Shock Trauma Center of, 86, 87

  Massachusetts Medical Society, 146–47

  Masterton, Bill, 52–53

  Mawae, Kevin, 269

  Mayo Clinic, 54, 199, 262–63

  medications, 137, 138

  Meili, Trisha, 101

  memory:

  episodic, 155

  hippocampus and, 143, 152–56, 153

  long-term, 153–54, 155

  procedural, 155

  working, 155–56

  memory loss, 4–5, 7, 9, 20, 27, 29, 37–38, 39, 40, 61, 75, 76, 77–80, 97–98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 112, 114, 117, 122, 128, 136–37, 174, 222, 246, 252, 254, 262, 277

  in Alzheimer’s, 230, 232, 233

  in dementia pugilistica, 181, 182, 189, 190, 193, 210–11

  in football-induced CTE, 215, 224, 232, 233, 238–39, 240–41, 270

  long-term, 78–80, 81

  short-term, 18–19, 67, 77–78, 80–81, 82, 105, 143, 182, 274

  Mendoza, Freddy, 16

  metabolic cascade, 170–72

  metallic taste, 2, 4, 5–6

  Michigan, University of, 251–52

  microtubules, 162–63, 165, 175

  mild cognitive impairment, 241

  Miller, Chris, 22

  Millspaugh, J. A., 189

  Milner, Brenda, 154

  mitochondria, 171

  Molaison, Henry Gustav (case history), 152–56

  Monday Night Football, 40

 

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