What Playing In The NFL Does To Your Brain

Would have been more interesting if she had pointed out what characteristics made her so sure that this brain was damaged....perhaps a comparison w a normal brain?

Sadly, this won't change anything.

i agree..a comparison would make our jaws drop.

Comparison needed for those with less experience with brain anatomy. Some of the "holes" in that brain are physiologic (the lateral ventricles), and you and I have them as well. She keeps pointing to the whole thing and saying that it's "very charachteristic" without specifying what in the picture is normal vs abnormal. That said, even "minor" concussions can be very challenging for people who develop post-concussive syndrome, and repeated brain injury is really bad.

Ew. Though I still submit the real damage comes from *watching* football.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZoFZrn93gO8/Sveug5nVHeI/AAAAAAAAAAw/DFcnL_clx04/s320/Alzheimer's+Disease.jpg

This reminded me of this picture I used for an anatomy class report.

Yeah, she's doing a high level equivalent of pointing and saying, "Bad thing!", making the video completely useless to anyone who hasn't studied brains.

So...what, we're supposed to treat NFL players like heroes now or something? Meh...they knew what they were getting themselves into.

@SethH
lol...so true.

I use the same blade at work to cut melons.

The majority of those cavities shouldn't be there. There also looks to be a slight discoloration which may be the result of smoking or drug-use.

Intercerebral Hemmhorages are pools of blood collecting inside the brain, the pressure of this blood is enough to destroy delicate brain-cells. The brain's consistency is that of jell-o, and if you remember "Hannibal", you can imagine, it can be scooped up like ice-cream.

Other vocations/hobbies that basically guarantee brain-damage: Anything involving physical trauama, Anything involving low oxygen atmospheres( e.g Firefighting, Mountain-Climbing, Pilot, etc.,)

I agree; some kind of comparison was necessary rather than pointing and saying "bad, bad".

@masada...I think the timing of the posting this video may have something to do with the current (well, recently ended) negotiations between NFL players and owners. IIRC, one of the terms they were negotiating was better healthcare and compensation for former players. Kinda...'we get our brains beat out making billions of dollars for you, you help us when we can no longer function.'

The source story has some of the details about what defects the brain has. Follow the source links through BoingBoing and to the Guardian.

"So...what, we're supposed to treat NFL players like heroes now or something?"

And how on earth did you come to that conclusion from what was presented in the video?

Many years ago they had the same analysis on boxing.
Somehow the chess club does seem more attractive now.