NFL Concussions and Nutritional Intervention: A positive connection for neurodegenerative disease?

Nov. 23, 2012 - PRLog -- Love of the game. That’s what many NFL players will tell you when asked why they would continue to play the sport, risk concussion, and risk the possibility of long term health issues including various neurodegenerative diseases. That moment on the field, the rush they get on game day, is tangible. Thinking about the future, life after football…well, that’s a little fuzzy.

And for retired players that are suffering the effects of brain trauma, possibly the result of a concussion, fuzzy is exactly how they feel as they tackle the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease .

Off the field many people are asking whether or not the NFL as an organization is doing enough to protect the players. And if not, who should pay.

But on the field, the players want to know how they can play the game they love, stay safe despite the violence of the game, and have a long healthy career with the healthy part extending into retirement.

What about the Study from the American Academy of Neurology?

Most stories surrounding the NFL concussions focus on a recently released study by the American Academy of Neurology. In their findings they note that overall, NFL players live longer than the US population in general. However, for those in their study that died, the neurodegenerative mortality is 3 times higher than the US population with afflictions with Alzheimer’s and ALS being 4 times higher.

Other underlying causes of death are also noted in the study. And of the 334 NFL players that died, many of the usual suspects are listed:

·        ● All cancers:  85

·        ● All cardiovascular diseases: 126

·       ●  All neurodegenerative causes: 10

·       ●  All injuries:  41

·        ● Violence: 13

·        ● All other causes: 59

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It’s important to note that more than one “contributing” causes of death may be listed on a death certificate. So, for example, a cancer may have been a contributing cause to the decline in the person’s health; however, cancer may have not been what ultimately killed them and what’s listed as the underlying cause of death.

It’s also interesting to note that in this report, the researchers indicate that CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, may have been the true primary or secondary factors in some of the deaths. CTE is only identified during autopsy and is being identified as a pathologically distinct neurodegenerative condition. And the symptoms which affect mental status, balance and movement can be similar to what is experienced with the more well-known diseases.

CTE diagnosis has only occurred within the last few years and there is still much to learn about it.

The Military Knows Something about CTE and Brain Trauma

It’s estimated that 20% of our military suffer from CTE. This can be the result of head trauma from the initial shock wave or the secondary “blast wind” of an unexpected IUD or other blast from combat. Athletes that experience multiple blows to the head can also be affected by this degenerative brain disease.

CTE sufferers present with abnormal deposits of the protein tau in the brain, which can be seen during autopsy. Those deposits of tau kill brain cells and cause cognitive declines. The result? Brain health and quality of life are affected.

Nutritional support for our military and elite athletes is what the science team behind Military Grade Nutritionals dietary supplements focus on. They are strong advocates for Siberian Ginseng aka Eleutherococcus senticosus for brain support. There are several promising studies that show regular use may prevent and/or delay the development of brain and cognitive related diseases, including CTE. This is why they have added that ingredient to their Navy Seal Formula.

It’s encouraging to see more research and studies being conducted to discover the cause of degenerative diseases of the brain. And, as players and their families are educated about the early signs of these diseases and the nutritional and dietary support available that may have a positive effect on the overall health of the player, we may get closer to the goal of loving the game and living a long, healthy life as the play clock runs down.

To find out more about the Navy Seal Formula from Military Grade Nutritionals go here: http://www.militarygradenutritionals.com/NavySeal%E2%84%A2.html



For more information about CTE and Siberian Ginseng go to the article about Dietary Supplement benefits for sports or combat blasts: http://militarygradenutritionals.com/blog/best-dietary-supplements/can-a-dietary-supplement-benefit-head-trauma-from-sports-or-combat-blasts/

The Science Behind Military Grade Nutritionals:

Active Life Global Solutions Ltd. is a unique innovative company that specializes in the study and development of cutting-edge nutritional solutions. Our clinical expertise is unparalleled in the industry: our board includes state-certified physicians, members of several European based Academies of Medical Sciences, who have an established record of developing innovative supplementation products.

Military Grade™ products were designed as a premium class product line for men that are used to dealing with extremes of our contemporary life. Stresses and combat fatigue are not only found on the forefront of combat operations, but are also common in our office jobs, daily routine, and in sporting events. Your will to be successful, to win, to achieve your goal – these are the characteristics of males that on a daily basis use ™ products

We do understand that you might have questions with respect to our products. For these purposes we established a toll-free hotline number. Please, do not hesitate to call us at: 1-800-961-7903