This essay was formulated by a question posed from any topic and answered with research to answer that question. However, my topic did not need to be posed as a question because it is a statement. A statement I backed up with facts, evidence, and research. My topic was on concussions and how they do have a dramatic and ever-lasting effect on one’s brain.

The Dramatic and Ever-Lasting Effects of Concussions

The most important organ in our body is the brain. It controls our actions, reactions, feelings, emotions, thoughts, memories, all things that make us human. One forceful impact to the head may lead to severe consequences, and once there is damage there is no returning to our normal state of mind. Concussions are considered traumatic brain injuries, yet they are not given as much attention as necessary. We pay to see sporting events, and pay people to professionally put themselves in harm’s way. One second an athlete is running to make a touchdown or a goal and in another they are knocked out by another player. A concussion happens in a split second, but if it is not treated properly one may undergo psychological trauma. Concussions do not discriminate in age. “The American Academy of Pediatrics has reported that emergency room visits for concussions in kids ages 8 to 13 years old has doubled, and concussions have risen 200 percent among teens ages 14 to 19 in the last decade.” (Head Case). Many children, teens, and young adults are either living with severe injuries from concussions; while others are unfortunate enough to have lost their own life.

“Each year, more than 300,000 people suffer brain injuries while playing a sport, most of which are concussions.” (Tyler; Nelson). Due to this alarming statistic, many studies have been done on former athletes to investigate the effects of concussions. Scientists have discovered three types of effects: neurological effects, psychological effects, and long-term or permanent effects. The most studied psychological effect is a disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Two neuroscientists, Stern and Mckee, have conducted “the largest study of CTE,” this disease occurs when athletes play any contact sport, from a high school level to a professional level (Ferrara). The data were collected from deceased athletes and showed 110 out of 111 NFL players had CTE, 48 out of 53 college football players who ended the sport once they graduated had CTE, and 3 out of 14 high school students who played only in high school had CTE. These “results do show that CTE is associated with playing tackle football early in life, not just at the professional level” (Ferrara). Another study was conducted on younger athletes’ brains, showing that children who begin “playing tackle football before the age of 12 are three times more likely to have behavioral and mood problems than those who start playing after that age” (Ferrara). CTE cannot be diagnosed during one’s lifetime. The only way to truly know if someone suffers from CTE is to examine the brain tissue and see if there’s a “buildup of abnormal protein” indicating parts of the brain were destroyed (Ferrara).  Although CTE cannot be formally diagnosed until after a person’s death, there are several symptoms that appear when the injured person is alive.

Most of these symptoms deal with “changes in mood and problems thinking” (Ferrara). Unfortunately, the symptoms exhibited by concussion sufferers are very similar to those experienced by persons who suffer from psychological diseases. “Grant Iverson, a neuropsychology professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia who specializes in concussions, says that studies show the more highly athletes derive their sense of self from a sport, the greater the psychological stress they experience once injured. The stress worsens the longer the physical symptoms last. Further complicating matters, Iverson adds, is the fact that concussive symptoms are so similar to those of depression and anxiety—fatigue, sadness, irritability, nervousness, confusion, trouble concentrating. It gets tricky to discern what’s concussion and what’s mental illness.” (Gulli). The “rest and wait” is a common concept used to treat a concussion (Gulli) that may, unfortunately, make psychological symptoms worsen. The treatment requires “no physical or mental activity until all symptoms have disappeared”, giving the brain some time to recover on its own. However, rest and inactivity can be challenging for an athlete. For recovering athletes, studies show that exercise actually benefits them when recovering from an injury. Research has also shown that “low-level activity” positively affects one’s mood, decreases stress levels, and increases hours of sleep (Gulli). Researchers are now working on understanding the correlation of “depression and anxiety in concussed patients” (Gulli) and trying to create treatments that better help concussed patients recover quickly while decreasing the psychological effects.

Regardless of how quickly symptoms from a concussion may disappear, the brain damage may “last for decades requiring long-term care for most sufferers” (Tate). Studies found on former NFL players’ brains showed brain waves of those “who suffered concussions ‘remain abnormal’ for at least two years after an injury and that parts of the brain ‘atrophy’ or die, following a hit” (Tate). A neuropsychologist, Maryse Lanssonde, M.D. said “”even when you are symptom-free, your brain may still not be back to normal” (Tate). She had conducted a study that required monitoring “the long-term effects of concussions” on older athletes who experienced a head injury, then comparing them to individuals who never experienced one (Tate). The results showed that those who suffered from “a head injury had memory loss, attention deficits, and motor problems similar to the early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease” (Tate). “The older athletes also had changes in the same regions of the brain that Alzheimer’s disease usually affects” (Tate). Her research also showed that players who returned back to playing too soon not only suffered from a second concussion, but risks of “serious brain damage or death” (Tate).

Concussions are common in athletes with any age. In professional sports athletes “can suffer the cumulative effect of repeated concussions, otherwise known as post-concussion syndrome (PCS).” (Tyler; Nelson). When direct contact is made to the head towards an individual who is recovering from a previous concussion makes the damaged brain take “longer to heal or never recovers to the pre-trauma state, so the injury becomes more severe.” (Tyler; Nelson). Researches are now calling repeated brain injuries that are serious: “second impact syndrome (SIS).” (Tyler; Nelson). “According to James P. Kelly, director of the Brain Injury Program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago,” SIS appears when an athlete who is recovering from a first concussion goes back to play too soon, and is hit again before the brain is fully healed (Tyler; Nelson). If the second impact on the head occurs the SIS effects “include physical paralysis, mental disabilities, and epilepsy.” (Tyler; Nelson). Victims of SIS then have a 50% chance of dying. “SIS can affect anyone exposed to a mild or moderate concussion; there’s no age discrimination.” (Tyler; Nelson).

It’s uncertain as to how many SIS cases occur every year in the U.S. because the first injury isn’t normally reported to a doctor. “The Center for Disease Control counted 17 cases of SIS between 1992 and 1995,” most of which are male athletes who encounter a second severe concussion “while participating in football, boxing, ice hockey, or snow skiing.” (Tyler; Nelson). High school football player Brandon Schultz made a tackle that appeared to be harmless. It hadn’t appeared that “head-to-head contact” was made with another player, and Schultz received a concussion. Schultz hadn’t lost consciousness and was able to walk and talk. “Minutes later, he collapsed into a fit of seizures before losing consciousness, the result of uncontrollable brain swelling.” (Tyler; Nelson). Schultz’s coaches never told him to see a doctor, and he “is now confined to a neurological facility in California.” (Tyler; Nelson). Schultz still suffers every day from his injury, his physicians describe “his condition as being locked in a state of permanent adolescence.” (Tyler; Nelson). “His cognitive functions are impaired,” and he is under “supervision because of his ongoing behavioral difficulties.” (Tyler; Nelson). Schultz experienced several strokes following his concussion, and “also experiences motor control problems on his left side and must wear a brace to walk.” (Tyler; Nelson).

“An estimated 5.3 million Americans live with a traumatic brain injury-related disability (CDC).” (Head Case). Lawsuits are often motivated by a desire to help others in the future. Lawsuits are mostly being made “against helmet manufacturers and sports-related organizations” because concussion effects are so serious (Weber). “90% of most diagnosed concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness.” (Head Case), and when one’s physical appearance and performance is great, the internal effects aren’t considered. In 2015, Debra Pyka, a mother made a lawsuit against Pop Warner because she felt that the organization didn’t do enough to warn families about the long and short-term effects of concussions on the brain. This resulted in the loss of “her son who played for Pop Warner youth football for four years,” hanging himself at 25 years old (Weber). Debra discovered through an autopsy that her son had CTE (Weber) and she felt the need to try and prevent other deaths.

The numerous lawsuits over concussions has now “heightened awareness about concussion risks and long-term effects,” and sporting organizations are looking into insurance and how it can cover these injuries (Weber). “The American Academy of Neurology and the Brain Injury Association have issued recommendations for return to play.” (Tyler; Nelson). The guidelines divide concussions into three types: Grade I: No loss of consciousness; transient confusion; mental status abnormalities last less than 15 minutes. The athlete may play again that day if symptoms resolve within 15 minutes. Grade II: No loss of consciousness; transient confusion; mental status abnormalities last more than 15 minutes. The athlete can play again only after he or she has been symptom-free for a full week. Grade III: Any loss of consciousness, either for brief seconds or prolonged. An athlete who is unconscious for just a few seconds can resume play after a full week of no symptoms. If the loss of consciousness lasts several minutes or more, the waiting period is at least two weeks.” (Tyler; Nelson). Statistics have shown that “1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a sports concussion during the season” and that won’t prevent athletes from quitting a passion of theirs (Head Case). What can be prevented is the lives lost because of concussions by taking proper steps.

The biggest challenge that lies ahead is knowing when enough is enough for a player. As a society, we are extremely competitive. We want to reach the top and take great risks in doing so. Some of the most motivating quotes, such as “No pain. No gain.” may motivate people to ignore early warning signs of traumatic brain injury. Our biggest competitor is time. There’s only a certain amount of time we have to get to become a famous athlete. Time works against us because the older we get, the less likely we will be the strongest or fastest athlete. We truly think we are invincible and won’t accept defeat. If an athlete takes a blow to the head, seems fine, continues to play for the win, and a few hours later they are pronounced, nothing really changes. As a society, we may be upset and saddened by the incident, but we often think, “that won’t happen to me.” Unfortunately, the issue of concussions is much more complex than statistics, lawsuits, and tragedies. The effects aren’t often immediate, they are delayed and uncertain.  Our need for competition and a win is too strong to be stopped by “what if.” If society doesn’t change and balance reward with risk, if we don’t work harder toward preventing TBIs, these tragedies will continue to occur. The statics stated are scary and yes, we cannot turn back time, but if measures are taken for even the slightest bump to the head, an individual increases their chance at enjoying a long and healthy life.