Ben Roethlisberger

Some of you may have been following the news about traumatic head injury among professional football players. We have known for some time that head injuries, particularly repetitive head injuries, substantially increase the risk of cognitive difficulties, including early life dementia.

The policy of the NFL up until now has been to minimize this medical fact. Only the most obvious symptoms are recognized. Unlike injuries to other parts of the body, the effects of  head trauma are not always immediately apparent. Also, there are substantial financial pressures/incentives involved with players holding lucrative contracts. So it is easy to see how players return to the game soon, sometimes too soon, after their brain was shaken up.

Ben Roethlisberger, the starting quarterback of the Pittsburg Steelers is a successful, highly paid athlete who is paid to play and win. Unfortunately, he has sustained head injuries on the field. He also happens to enjoy high speed motorcycle riding as a lifestyle and to make matters worse, he has sustained injuries from this activity as well. The combination of the two has rendered him symptomatic enough that he was recently held back from starting his usual quarterback assignment. This is an important development. His injuries are part of what has awakened intense discussion in the NFL regarding proper medical protocol in such situations. Two physicians who up until now have been responsible for shaping and guiding such policy matters have been replaced.  New head injury rules are being drafted.

Unfortunately Mr. Roethlisberger’s  experience is not unique. There are many instances of high school and college football players who play too soon after injury. In fact there is even less regulation at these earlier levels of competition where very young players with still developing brains are placed at even higher risk for later life cognitive difficulties. Needless to say this is a most unfortunate situation for those players and families personally affected.

Yet these highly publicized examples like Mr. Roethlisberger’s, call much needed attention to brain health, brain disease risk factors, and the critical importance of prevention; for example, wearing protective helmets while engaging in high risk sports including bicycling, avoiding circumstances of possible re-injury and strengthening overall brain functioning.

Your brain is a precious and vital organ… treat it with care!