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10/29/14   |   By

What is Causing Dementia in Former NFL Players? | DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog

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The investigation continues into how head injuries affect NFL players. One of the most compelling details is the high prevalence of brain diseases in these athletes.

According to recent data, almost one-third of all NFL players will contract dementia or Alzheimer’s disease over their lifetimes. Thousands of athletes currently suing the organization believe the NFL concealed the potential dangers of head trauma, unnecessarily exposing its players to future impairment.

Not only do former NFL players face higher rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia, but they also experience higher-than-normal occurrences of other conditions, such as:

  • Parkinson’s disease
  • ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease)
  • Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

With up to 100 percent of NFL players suffering from CTE, parties involved in the lawsuit have begun to suspect that the $675 million the league has set aside to pay settlements may not be enough. Twenty-one thousand former players currently stand eligible to receive compensation.

However, doubts remain as to whether head trauma is the sole or primary cause of degenerative brain illnesses in NFL players. Recent research has revealed diet plays a significant role in the brain’s long-term health, and high-carbohydrate diets may be the culprit in many cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

An increasing number of physicians and dieticians recommend all individuals adopt a diet closer to that of our ancestors:

  • Higher amounts of animal fat
  • Significant lower percentage of calories from carbohydrates
  • Adequate calories from protein

Some research even suggests that the so-called “high fat, low carb” diet, also called a “ketogenic diet,” may be able to stop or reverse metabolically related diseases, like dementia. Whether or not the NFL will look into the dietary habits of their current and former players remains to be seen. The organization will likely continue to investigate a number of possible causes for the high number of dementia-related illnesses among its players as it attempts to improve their wellbeing.

If you or a loved one has suffered a long-term brain condition due to a sports-related head injury, get the justice you deserve by contacting a Washington D.C. personal injury attorney today.

Learn more about the legal machinations over NFL concussions: check out NFL and Former Football Players Settle Concussion Lawsuits and how NFL is handling its concussion problem.

Regan Zambri Long
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