New report demonstrates causal link between head impacts and CTE for first time

A new report has demonstrated a causal link between repetitive head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy for the first time. The research, carried out by Harvard University, Oxford Brookes University and 11 other academic institutions, alongside analysis from the Concussion Legacy Foundation, has found “conclusive evidence” that the progressive brain disease can be linked to sub-concussive blows such as heading. The authors have immediately called for safeguarding measures in contact sports, concluding: “the strength of the current evidence compels us to focus on immediately implementing aggressive CTE mitigation programs, especially for children.” Evidence of CTE has been found in athletes participating in football, American football, rugby union, ice hockey, lacrosse, mixed martial arts, wrestling and boxing. “Armed with confidence in the causal connection between repeated head impacts and CTE, parents and youth coaches may reject exposing their children to a preventable degenerative brain disease,” the report states.