Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 16 February 2017
Study of footballers’ brains highlights dementia concerns

ROB HARRIS tant to ensure that people has been a $1 billion set-
AP Global Soccer Writer playing any kind of sport tlement between the NFL
LONDON (AP) — The de- are able to do so safely,” and thousands of its former
generative damage po- Dr. James Pickett, research American football players
tentially caused by repeat- head at the Alzheimer’s So- who have been diagnosed
ed blows to the head in ciety, said. with brain injuries linked to
soccer has been highlight- Concerns have grown in repeated concussions. In
ed by a rare study of brains Britain about the impact 2015, the U.S. Soccer Fed-
of a small number of retired of head injuries after cam- eration recommended a
players who developed paigning by the family of ban on headers for play-
dementia. former England striker Jeff ers 10 and under in a bid
Fourteen former players Astle, whose death at age to address concerns about
were part of the research 59 in 2002 was attributed to the impact of head injuries.
that began around 40 years repeatedly heading heavy, The British soccer research
ago and six brains, which leather balls. was instigated by consul-
underwent post-mortem Astle’s daughter, Dawn, is tant psychiatrist Dr. Don
examinations, had signs of urging “current footballers Williams, who started to
Alzheimer’s disease. Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Don Williams speaks to the Associ- or families of footballers to monitor former players
Four brains were found to ated Press in his office in London, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. pledge the brain” for medi- who were diagnosed with
have chronic traumatic Associated Press cal research. “If we hadn’t dementia from 1980. From
encephalopathy (CTE) pa- But researchers hope the lowed long term, looking at donated dad’s brain, we Swansea in south Wales,
thology, a possible conse- findings provide the im- various aspects in terms of wouldn’t know what we Williams monitored the re-
quence of repeated im- petus for more substantial their mental functions, im- know now — we wouldn’t tired players and collected
pacts to the brain, includ- studies in conjunction with aging of the brain and also know what had killed him,” data on their playing and
ing heading the ball and soccer authorities. The re- markers that might identify Dawn Astle said. “It’s too concussion history.
concussion injuries from searchers require current or neurological damage.” late for dad. The research “In 1980 the son of a man
head-to-head collisions. A retired players to be willing England’s Football Asso- is so important for current with advanced dementia
previous study of 268 brains to take part of investiga- ciation said it is committed players and for future play- asked me if his father’s con-
from the general popula- tions that could take de- to “independent, robust ers. That’s why we need it. dition had been caused by
tion in Britain found a far cades to produce conclu- and thorough” research, “I think that’s what is so very heading the ball for many
lower CTE detection rate of sions. “Our findings show which it is jointly funding frustrating — the fact that years as a powerful center
12 percent. there is a potential link be- with the players’ union. The it’s nearly 15 years since half,” Williams said. “As the
The small sample size of for- tween repetitive head im- Alzheimer’s Society main- my dad died. And the fact brain is a very fragile organ,
mer footballers prevented pacts from playing football tained that the latest “re- that nothing from any foot- well protected within the
researchers from Univer- and the later development sults do not provide proof balling authorities has been skull, this was a constructive
sity College London and of CTE,” lead author Dr. Hel- that heading a football, or done. It is really indefen- suggestion.
Britain’s National Hospital en Ling of the UCL Institute sustaining a head injury by sible and disgraceful.” “As a result I looked out for
for Neurology and Neuro- of Neurology told The Asso- any other means during At least four members of men with dementia and a
surgery from drawing any ciated Press. the sport, is linked to devel- England’s 1966 World Cup- significant history of play-
conclusions about the dan- “This will support the need oping dementia.” winning squad have devel- ing soccer, followed them
gers posed by playing soc- for larger scale studies of “Exercise is one of the best oped dementia or memory up and where possible ar-
cer as they released their a larger number of foot- ways to reduce your risk of loss. ranged for post-mortem
research. ballers who need to be fol- dementia and it’s impor- In the United States, there studies to be carried out.”q

LJ Hoes suspended 50 games for drug of abuse

NEW YORK (AP) — Former after a positive test for the Texas League and 1-4 with
big league outfielder L.J. performance-enhancing a 4.56 ERA in one start and
Hoes has been suspended drug Hydrochlorothiazide; 39 relief appearances at
for 50 games under base- and Arizona catcher Ryan Triple-A Memphis. He was
ball’s minor league drug January was suspended 50 acquired from Boston in
program following a sec- games after a positive test July 2014 along with pitch-
ond positive test for a drug for the banned stimulant er John Lackey in the trade
of abuse. Amphetamine. that sent outfielder Allen
St. Louis left-hander Corey Hoes, who turns 27 next Craig and right-hander Joe
Littrell, a grandson of former month, hit .237 with four Kelly to the Red Sox.
big league infielder Jack homers and 22 RBIs in 112 Corey Littrell’s father, Jack
Littrell Sr., also was banned games for Baltimore (2012- Littrell Jr., pitched in the
50 games following a sec- 13) and Houston (2013- minor leagues for the Los
ond positive test for a drug 15). He batted .242 with Angeles Dodgers and Mon-
of abuse, the commission- six homers and 33 RBIs last treal from 1977-80. Jack Lit-
er’s office said Wednesday. year for the Norfolk, the Ori- trell Sr. pitched for the Phil-
Colorado infielder Yeremi oles’ team in the Triple-A In- adelphia and Kansas City
Rosario was suspended 72 ternational League. Athletics and the Chicago
games after a positive test Corey Littrell, who turns 25 Cubs from 1952-57.
for the performance-en- next month, was 1-0 with There have been 11 sus-
hancing drug Tamoxifen; a 1.72 ERA in 13 relief ap- pensions this year under In this July 20, 2014, file photo, Houston Astros’ L.J. Hoes hits an
Atlanta infielder Gabe How- pearances last year at the minor league drug one-run double against the Chicago White Sox during the sev-
ell was penalized 68 games Double-A Springfield of the program.q enth inning of a baseball game in Chicago.
Associated Press