Junior Seau,CTE and social welfare

[stephkyle7]

AS had been expected, the family of Junior Saeau announced that he had developed sever CTE from his time in the NFL

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is a long-term consequence of single or repetitive closed head injuries for which there is no treatment and no definitive pre-mortem diagnosis. It has been closely tied to athletes who participate in contact sports like boxing, American football, soccer, professional wrestling and hockey. Risk factors include head trauma presence of ApoE3 or ApoE4 allele military service, and old age. It is histologically identified by the presence of tau-immunoreactive NFTs and NTs with some cases having a TDP-43 proteinopathy or beta-amyloid plaques. It has an insidious clinical presentation that begins with cognitive and emotional disturbances and can progress to Parkinsonian symptoms. The exact mechanism for CTE has not been precisely defined however, research suggest it is due to an ongoing metabolic and immunologic cascade called immunoexcitiotoxicity. Prevention and education are currently the most compelling way to combat CTE and will be an emphasis of both physicians and athletes. Further research is needed to aid in pre-mortem diagnosis, therapies, and support for individuals and their families living with CTE.

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is one of the most common neurologic disorders accounting for approximately 90% of all brain injuries sustained
It has been well established that repetitive concussive or subconcussive blows to the head place individuals at risk for CTE [5, 6, 8]. CTE has been associated with athletes who participate in contact sports like American football, boxing, hockey, soccer, and professional wrestling. Other sports that are not directly associated with CTE, but have well-documented cases of concussion, include mixed martial arts, rugby, and horseback riding. Other groups at risk for repetitive head trauma and CTE are military veterans, epileptics, and victims of domestic abuse [5]. It has been reported that approximately 17% of professional retired boxers will exhibit CTE [3]. Although each group listed has a unifying factor of head trauma, they differ in particular aspects that may influence the severity or chronicity of their injury (see Table 1 for a summary of risk factors).

While it is clear that anyone who suffers repeated head trauma, regardless of the mechanism, may carry the risk of developing CTE, there is no clear consensus on how much or how little trauma is needed to cause CTE. While most feel CTE is a manifestation of repetitive trauma, the question still stands if it can be caused by a single TBI [10]. In a study by Johnson et al., widespread tau and beta-amyloid deposition was found in the brains of individuals who suffered a single traumatic brain injury.

Initially, patients begin to have poor concentration, attention, and memory along with disorientation, dizziness, and headaches. They typically progress to experience irritability, outbursts of violent or aggressive behavior, confusion, and speech abnormalities. During this stage of the disease, there is a high frequency of suicide, drug overdose, and mood disorders, mainly major depressive disorder [5]. A study by Omalu and colleagues describes a similar clinical profile with a latent asymptomatic period between play and symptom onset. He reports worsening of cognitive and social functioning leading to poor money management, bankruptcy, social phobias, paranoid ideation, insomnia, poor relationships, divorce, emotional/physical abuse, and substance abuse [18]. Family and friends of the affected individuals reported many of these symptoms to researchers through standard forensic interviews [18].

how does this relate to social programs?

peoples brain chemistry is as varying as our height, weight,the legth of our fingers and noses.

when someone is blind, we see the issue and tend to be more understanding of the disability they suffer, and make allowances.
But mental impairment is only seen when it is severly pronounced, by auetism or retardation, BUT STILL EXISTS TO A ENOURMOUS DEGREE.

FREE WILL AND CHOICE AS YOUR END ALL EXCUSE FOR THE FAILURES OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU IS NARROW MINDED AND ARROGANT.
are there some people who are lazy, or just dont care all that much about anything?
I suppose, but a far greater number suffer from these types of issues.
the fact that Seau condition was brought on by trauma does nothing to negate the fact that many,many people suffer with these issues strictly from a GENETIC DISPOSITION THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.

dissmissing them as losers,or lazy,or playing the victim,is simply just a way to ego stroke yourself.

[stephkyle7]

this topic seems to be an epic fail, so i'll close it out by explaining that, In most RT leaning philosophy, the concept of Freedom and personal choice are the foundation of everything else.

all things being equal this is a fair and equitable approach to building a society.
If you want something then you have to work as hard or harder to get it then the last person to achieve it. This dynamic keeps us in a constantly upward cycle of progress.

But what we have found ,not by opinion, but by scientific fact, so it REALLY isnt debatable, is that we are controlled copmpletely by our Brain function.

Our desires, our painthresolds, our perceptions,our emotions, are all functions of our Brains ability to function correctly.

when a psychopaths brain is viewed under MRI, they can clearly SEE areas that are "broken", the same holds true for every disfuntion that a person suffers.

where is their fair chance?

we are willing to force cities to make sidewalks and stores handicap acessible and no one complains, but when someone has a mental inferment, something we cant "see" with our eyes, we tend to dissmiss it.
They are lazy, or stupid, or a drama queens, or unmotivated....

these terms are useless and dont move us forward as a society.

the cost of medically correcting EVERY last issue people suffer from would be obscene.
But, so is criminalizing the poor decisions they make when faced with difficult situations, or simply lacking the impulse control to reign themselves in.

providing a small stipen,to keep them from sleeping on your front Curb, or eating out of your trashcans every Monday Morning...is it that much of an inconvienience?

would you prefer them homeless, commiting crimes?

Personal choice and free will are a starting point for our society, but cant be applied equally to everyone, complaining "wheres mine" when you see someone recieving aid is a very selfish attitude, becasue YOURS is reflected in the far more rewarding life you are enjoying...that should be enough.

[waveycrockett]

It's not on the govt to stop CTE in football players it's on the NFL. And when they get sued out the ying yang like Big Tabacoo was maybe they will start to shape up. Brain Damage settlement for your average adult is about ~$10MILLION PER PATIENT and ~$20MILLION PER CHILD. Think of all the people who will be lining up to sue the NFL. Nothing to do with GOVT.

[stephkyle7]

No doubt about it wavey, but what I was trying to convey was that as the article stated,CTE can be casued simply by a single head trauma or a genetic prediposition as evidenced from the presence of the two genetic alleles mentioned.

If that is the case then people like Chris Henry, and many others who behave erratically,and wind up hurting themselves and others,as well as people who are socially and employmentally incompetent, are very likely suffering from one of a thousand imbalances in Brain Function.

I get frustrated from the darwinistic approach to these issues, sux to be you, isnt a philosophy to build a society on.