Repeated blows to the head – like those in boxing and American football – can lead to personality changes, cognitive problems and depression years later. This neurodegenerative disease, called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), is associated with the progressive accumulation of tau protein in the brain.
A 2017 study of the brains of 111 deceased former NFL players found that 99 percent had CTE. “I can say with absolute certainty that what we’re showing is a relationship between years of playing and risk of disease,” said Jesse Mez, a neuroscientist at Boston University.
The NFL has developed an artificial intelligence tool that uses television images and sensors embedded in helmets, mouthguards and shoulder pads to try to reduce injuries among American football players. It leverages machine learning and computer vision technology to pinpoint impacts and injuries and provide insights to keep players safer. “Having computers understand how many times players hit their helmets during a game (helps) find ways to reduce the number of helmet contacts,” said NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller, which led to the sport’s Some rule changes aimed at reducing risk.
Any harm reduction measures are a good thing. But, Metz added, while “the NFL is doing better in some areas, football is essentially about hitting, and I don’t think we can ever fully mitigate the risk.”
