By Dr. Kate Scannell, Syndicated Columnist
First Published in Print: 03/20/2011
I AM IN DETROIT visiting family, and I’ve got sports on the brain.
Last night, we watched a local news report about former Red Wing hockey star Bob Probert who died last July at age 45 with a bad heart and battered brain. His celebrity on the ice rink had derived as much from his skill with his fists as with his stick.
Earlier this month, Probert’s brain was examined and found to exhibit “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” or “CTE” – a degenerative brain disease originally noted in boxers and, more recently, football players. Caused by repetitive or severe head trauma, CTE can manifest as dementia, memory loss, depression, aggression, and suicidal behavior. According to his wife, Probert had displayed problems with short-term memory and a quick temper.
During a commercial break, one of my sisters commented upon the increasing violence she’d witnessed during her own sons’ school sports activities. “But the parents are often worse than their kids,” she said. Read More
First Published in Print: 03/20/2011
I AM IN DETROIT visiting family, and I’ve got sports on the brain.
Last night, we watched a local news report about former Red Wing hockey star Bob Probert who died last July at age 45 with a bad heart and battered brain. His celebrity on the ice rink had derived as much from his skill with his fists as with his stick.
Earlier this month, Probert’s brain was examined and found to exhibit “chronic traumatic encephalopathy” or “CTE” – a degenerative brain disease originally noted in boxers and, more recently, football players. Caused by repetitive or severe head trauma, CTE can manifest as dementia, memory loss, depression, aggression, and suicidal behavior. According to his wife, Probert had displayed problems with short-term memory and a quick temper.
During a commercial break, one of my sisters commented upon the increasing violence she’d witnessed during her own sons’ school sports activities. “But the parents are often worse than their kids,” she said. Read More