Scientific Asia: Following the announcement by the late NFL quarterback Brett Favre that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, there is renewed focus on the connection between head injuries sustained in contact sports and brain damage.
The 54-year-old Favre has already discussed the concussions he sustained during his football career, but he has stated he probably won’t make much changes.
With his long-term NFL future uncertain following his third diagnosed concussion since 2021 earlier this month, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tangovailoa may be a victim of persistent brain traumas in the modern day.
On Sunday, Drs. Idries and Jamil Abdur-Rahman appeared on “Morning in America” to talk about the link between head trauma and athletics.
“I assume that when we think of concussions, we picture something that occurs suddenly? However, what actually occurs is that a lot of football players—not just football players but also rugby players and participants in contact sports—have chronic trauma, according to Dr. Idries.
“You get this protein deposition in the brain, which ultimately results in brain shrinkage. There will be an increase in Parkinson’s disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. He continued, “You find a lot of mood issues in patients who get concussions frequently.
Although tremors are the most prevalent symptom of Parkinson’s disease, there are other typical symptoms as well.
According to Dr. Jamil, “people with Parkinson’s may feel forgetful; they have trouble concentrating.” “You notice shifts in mood as well as shifts in sleeping patterns.
Treatment-wise, there are numerous drugs that essentially try to reduce the activity of the brain regions that are overactive in Parkinson’s disease.
“Even though we can temporarily raise the quality of life, as the disease worsens, you do still see that downward track.”
Nexstar Media, Inc. 2024 Copyright. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or distribute this content.
