I question the sample in this study. The 111 brains donated for the study (out of thousands who have played) likely came from players whose families suspected brain damage.
It would also be interesting to see what positions those 111 played. I’m thinking ing that the position played would have a big effect on the likelihood of concussions.
Bingo! We have a winner!
It would however be interesting to see a somewhat random sample.
Let’s start with all current and former 49ers!
Bingo! We have a winner!
It would however be interesting to see a somewhat random sample.
Let’s start with all current and former 49ers!
Bingo, you got it. All were donated because it was suspected.
Even if not, they were all football players that were studied. With no background group - who is to say almost EVERY brain wouldn’t come back with it?
Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story!
Those can’t handle contact sports should stick to math.
The 111 brains studied also came from players who are dead (one figures ...) rather than those still alive. They are, therefore, not wholly representative of all football-players' brains.
Nonetheless, that's a startling result, and I can entirely understand a man's deciding to do something else with his life.
The NFL admitted long ago they knew about 30% of their retired players would go on to have cognitive issues... Yes the sampling may be a bit biased by those brains left especially for the purpose to be examined, but if you think CTE is a rare condition for someone who spends years treating their heads like a crash test dummy’s you are in denial.
And you're right to!
The sample, as you mentioned, is very, very small. And it was not randomly chosen -- it was self-selected.
It certainly points to a potential problem, but it doesn't prove one.