Sports is a high dollar industry. Sports stars earn millions of dollars just by practicing and playing a game; but there is also a lot of risk. Many athletes, especially football players, suffer from brain damage and life changing injuries. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), is a serious injury in sports that is hard to confirm through testing.
Symptoms of CTE are recognizable but there’s no true way to confirm the condition until an autopsy is performed. However, a new study has shown that a simple speech test could detect CTE much earlier, and the test could be used to determine whether certain treatments are effective. Unfortunately, the damage done is likely irreversible, but this language test could help doctors slow the cognitive damage done by CTE.
Unfortunately, the test was limited to just 10 subjects, so positive findings may or may not be valid. After much more testing has been done and the results are more conclusive, this test could be used for participants in all contract sports that carry the risk of brain injury, and could greatly improve the lives of players during and after their time playing.
The test could have even more profound effects outside of sports. It’s possible this test could be used to detect other neurological illnesses such as Alzheimer’s. Most doctors believe that the effects of Alzheimer’s can’t be treated or slowed once they have become prominent enough for diagnosis, but if it could be detected earlier, the quality of life for sufferers could be improved.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a severe brain injury caused by the fault of another, contact Alexander Law Group, LLC. Our team of personal injury lawyers will get you the largest settlement possible. Call us at 888.777.1776, or contact us online.
