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Concussion foundation: 91% of ex-college players studied have CTE
- Thread starter PlayerRep
- Start date
Richard Cranium
Well-known member
PlayerRep said:
You are way closer to a 1%er than the 9%er, sir!
Jeff Choke
Well-known member
grizfnz said:
#BOOM
thats seriously funny :lol: :lol: :lol:PlayerRep said:
This is from a physician who is part of our Dartmouth football player email group. This guy is an orthopedic surgeon, and he's part of the team doctor group for Coastal Carolina.
"The methodology of this study is from postmortem brains 9of persons who played college football) that had been submitted for evaluation. The authors of the article admit that there was most likely a selection bias. The authors were not sure why the brains were submitted by the families, but said most likely there were "issues" which caused family members to want further information following the death of a loved one.
So to say that 16% of college football players have CTE is a somewhat sensationalized headline, to say the least. That is not to say that there is NOT a high percentage of football players who ultimately develop CTE, nor is it to say that there IS. In order to reach a statistically significant analysis of the effect playing college football has upon developing CTE, a randomized study of brains with no selection bias, requiring thousands of brain studies, would need to be performed. The pathologists in the study who evaluate the post mortem samples of brain tissue should have NO knowledge of the history of the patient, and should make the diagnosis without knowing that the patient had or did not have a history of concussion or did or did not play college football. The subsequent numbers of those persons whose brains exhibit CTE would need to be verified by valid statistical analysis, with a number of variables included such as a history of concussion while playing college football, lacrosse, soccer, boxing, wrestling, martial arts, as well as concussions which result from other sources such as car accidents or falls to name but a few. In addition, the brains in the study which do not show CTE also would need to be evaluated by the same variables. When all of that information is collected and evaluated by rigorous statistical study, then possibly an accurate assessment could be made.
So think about your high school and college football teammates with whom you maintain contact. Do 91% of them seem to have dementia as far as you can tell? Or are they just as crazy now as they were back in the day? Or less so?
Food for thought, and much more research needs to be done before jumping to premature conclusions.
Meanwhile, each time you forget where you left the car keys or the name of some acquaintance, be assured that is a natural part of the ageing of the brain and does not mean you have CTE."
"The methodology of this study is from postmortem brains 9of persons who played college football) that had been submitted for evaluation. The authors of the article admit that there was most likely a selection bias. The authors were not sure why the brains were submitted by the families, but said most likely there were "issues" which caused family members to want further information following the death of a loved one.
So to say that 16% of college football players have CTE is a somewhat sensationalized headline, to say the least. That is not to say that there is NOT a high percentage of football players who ultimately develop CTE, nor is it to say that there IS. In order to reach a statistically significant analysis of the effect playing college football has upon developing CTE, a randomized study of brains with no selection bias, requiring thousands of brain studies, would need to be performed. The pathologists in the study who evaluate the post mortem samples of brain tissue should have NO knowledge of the history of the patient, and should make the diagnosis without knowing that the patient had or did not have a history of concussion or did or did not play college football. The subsequent numbers of those persons whose brains exhibit CTE would need to be verified by valid statistical analysis, with a number of variables included such as a history of concussion while playing college football, lacrosse, soccer, boxing, wrestling, martial arts, as well as concussions which result from other sources such as car accidents or falls to name but a few. In addition, the brains in the study which do not show CTE also would need to be evaluated by the same variables. When all of that information is collected and evaluated by rigorous statistical study, then possibly an accurate assessment could be made.
So think about your high school and college football teammates with whom you maintain contact. Do 91% of them seem to have dementia as far as you can tell? Or are they just as crazy now as they were back in the day? Or less so?
Food for thought, and much more research needs to be done before jumping to premature conclusions.
Meanwhile, each time you forget where you left the car keys or the name of some acquaintance, be assured that is a natural part of the ageing of the brain and does not mean you have CTE."
AZGrizFan said:
So your life is like a never-ending treasure hunt too...
:clap: :lol:PlayerRep said:
IdaGriz01
Well-known member
Thank you for posting this information.PlayerRep said:
After I first read the item, I had some serious doubts -- as a scientist -- about the methodology of the "study" as well as the handling of the story. It's seems probable that there is something there, but one cannot judge how serious the problem truly is from these results. And, I'm sorry to say, these days I become doubtful when an advocacy group (which is what the "Concussion Legacy Foundation" is, no matter how they try to dress it up) releases some "study" results that so conveniently support their position. This press release was, IMO, carefully worded to generate the maximum shock effect, with just enough weasel words so they could claim they "weren't trying to scare anybody." All too common any more, I'm afraid.
