Menu 0

Concussions, CTE, and Student Athletes

Concussions, CTE, and Student Athletes

While many people are at risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), student athletes who compete in contact sports like football and soccer are at high risk. Playing contact sports elevates the risk for CTE exponentially due to the repetitive concussions and head traumas players can experience.

Though CTE symptoms don’t develop immediately after a head injury or concussion, student athletes need to be educated on the warning signs of CTE and know the possible preventative measures to prevent permanent damage.

CTE and Omega-3s: Supporting Brain Health After Injury

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is an injury to the brain that can occur after repetitive blows to the head, after a single traumatic severe incident, or following repeated minor incidents. Fortunately, supplements with Omega-3 fatty acids can help support the brain's healing process.

How CTE Impacts Daily Life

After a series of head injuries, whether from contact sports or car accidents, CTE sufferers have been known to experience short-term memory loss, irritability, aggression, depression, and suicidal thoughts. The condition affects sleep and is believed to increase the odds of developing Parkinson's disease.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease resulting in dementia and problems with walking, speaking, and thinking. CTE sufferers may experience mental health issues such as:

  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Memory loss
  • Decreased cognitive skills

CTE has been found in athletes who play contact sports, military veterans, victims of domestic violence, and others who have experienced multiple traumatic head injuries. CTE can only be diagnosed after death when doctors can study the brain for protein deposits called tau tangles that provide evidence of the disease. CTE is not yet curable or preventable; however, Omega-3 supplements offer benefits to those who suffer from CTE.

While many people are at risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), student athletes who compete in contact sports like football and soccer are at high risk. Playing contact sports elevates the risk for CTE exponentially due to the repetitive concussions and head traumas players can experience.

Though CTE symptoms don’t develop immediately after a head injury or concussion, student athletes need to be educated on the warning signs of CTE and know the possible preventative measures to prevent permanent damage.

What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)?

According to the CDC, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death, likely caused by repeated head traumas. CTE can cause brain atrophy as an abnormal buildup of the tau protein occurs around the blood vessels in the brain.

People with CTE might also show signs of other neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease.

What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)?

Though no specific symptoms have been linked to CTE, some people with proven CTE develop motor, mood, behavioral, and cognitive changes. Some of these changes can include

  • memory loss
  • problems with executive function
  • aggression
  • impulsiveness
  • depression
  • substance abuse
  • motor neuron disease

CTE symptoms won't develop immediately following a head injury and may appear over years or even decades after repeated head traumas.

Concussions in Student Athletes

Though a single concussion isn’t enough to cause CTE, most subjects with CTE have a repeated history of concussions. According to CDC statistics, 1.6- 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur every year in the United States.  

Football accounts for more than 60% of concussions among high school athletes. Student athletes who experience a concussion are three times more likely to experience a second concussion. Because CTE can result from repeated concussions, student athletes need to know how to properly treat concussions in order to avoid long-term problems.

Any student athlete that experiences a head trauma needs to be seen by a medical professional immediately to ensure that any necessary treatment isn’t delayed. Severe injuries may require medical stabilization, and anyone who has experienced a head trauma should be monitored closely for changes to their behavior and cognitive functioning. In extreme cases, a patient may need to be medicated or require surgery to remove ruptured blood vessels or damaged brain matter.

Supporting the Brain Health of Our Student Athletes

To support the brain health of the student athletes in your life, here is what you can do:

1

Learn the signs and symptoms of head trauma injuries and concussion 

2

Educate students, coaches, and educators about head trauma

3

Enforce the use of appropriate protective headgear

4

Take an injured athlete out of play until their brain has time to heal, based on doctor’s recommendations

5

Track dates and times of injuries, along with the severity

6

Set return-to-play schedules based on physician recommendations

Supplementing for Brain Health - Now and In the Future

Student athletes who have sustained concussions can add Memory Health supplements to their diets to improve their brain function and prevent severe CTE symptoms before they develop.

Memory Health® is the first patented brain supplement for preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases. It has been clinically proven to improve cognitive function and memory and has been shown to improve focus, mood, and brain fog.

NUTRITION FOR THE BRAIN

Memory Health® is made using a patented formula of lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, combined with omega-3s (DHA and EPA) and natural vitamin E. Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress while omega-3s are vital for maintaining healthy brain function.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

NUTRITION FOR THE BRAIN

Memory Health® is made using a patented formula of lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin, combined with omega-3s (DHA and EPA) and natural vitamin E. Lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin are potent antioxidants that reduce inflammation and oxidative stress while omega-3s are vital for maintaining healthy brain function.