Football Head Injuries that May Contribute to CTE Are On the Rise Due to Bigger, Faster Players

Boxers who had suffered multiple blows to the head used to be described as being “punch drunk.” Today, such a condition is a growing occupational hazard for the hard-hitting sport of football. Why? Because players are bigger, faster and more powerful than ever, according to reports.

The degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has been linked to repeated head trauma and, most recently, to former pro football player Junior Seau — the 20-season veteran NFL linebacker who committed suicide last year and was later diagnosed with CTE. Former NFL veterans Dave Duerson, Terry Long and Andre Waters all shot themselves to death before it was discovered that they, too, had the disease. And earlier this year, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then himself, which has led some to believe he may have had CTE, although that has yet to be confirmed.

Two recent studies — one from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) — have found abnormalities associated with the condition in the brains of former pro football players like Seau. For more information, click here to read the full release.