NFL collaborates on research examining long-term effects of repeated head injuries in order to improve concussion diagnosis

The NFL is working in conjunction with the National Institute of Health (NIH) to examine the long-term effects of repeated head injuries - and how those effects might allow researchers to create new methods for more effective concussion diagnosis.

CBS News reports that the research will consist of eight different studies, with the bulk of the funding allocated to two studies focusing on changes in the brain over time after a head injury or multiple concussions. In particular, researchers will endeavor to find a method for diagnosing the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which currently can only be detected after the patient's death. CTE can cause symptoms including memory loss, mood swings, depression, confusion and aggressive behavior; at least two professional athletes who recently committed suicide were diagnosed with the disease after their deaths.

According to Story Landis, director of the NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, "This program will help researchers get closer to answering some of the important questions about concussion for our youth who play sports and their parents."

If you are the parent of a child who has suffered traumatic brain injury while playing sports, the legal team at Hodes Milman can help. Call (949) 640-8222 or go online at verdictvictory.com for a free consultation.