Tonight, Friday, Oct. 16, ABC World News Tonight presented a story about the injury to the brains of pro football players (giving one example of a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers who died at 50), leading to accumulation of proteins in the brain that resemble Alzheimer’s. These injuries might occur even without the player ever having a formal concussion. Of course, similar concerns are known from boxing. The story was expected to continue on Nightline.
The interesting moral point is that society enjoys sports, and pressures young men into contact sports, as a way to build competitiveness, social loyalty, and character.
Dementia-like changes, of course, occur as a result of heart disease and strokes, and probably increase not only in smokers but in those exposed to second-hand smoke as well as various pollutants and toxins.
I couldn’t find the link for this story yet, but there is an earlier story on the cost of Alzheimer’s on ABC News, here. The story is titled “Rising Cost of Caring for Alzheimer's: Families Face Personal and Financial Strain Providing Care for Loved Ones”, by John McKenzie. The story also covers the incredible personal strain on caregivers. The link is here. At least 5.3 million Americans now have the disease, which is becoming viewed as one of society’s gravest public health problems. Here is the National Institute on Aging link http://www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Publications/stages.htm Here is a Jannis Productions video on the biochemistry of Alzheimer’s.
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