Boston University researchers are close to making a breakthrough that could change the future of football.
Researchers from Boston University’s School of Medicine may be on the verge of changing football forever.
The Boston-based scientists have found an inflammatory protein circulating in spinal fluid that could reflect the presence of CTE in patients’ brains, meaning that doctors would be able to diagnose CTE in living football players.
Dr. Ann McKee, a co-author of the study that revealed the game-changing discovery, says that it’s “just the beginning,” but for some NFL players, the emerging revelation could present a number of tough decisions in the near future.
Detroit Lions players would take CTE test if available https://t.co/0Vvc2VfQtT pic.twitter.com/noA1YzvpEy
— Detroit Free Press (@freep) September 27, 2017
“I think with anything with health you would want to know. I mean, whether it’s good or bad. If there was a potential for me to take a test and find out if I had cancer or God forbid anything, I think you should want to know your health status. So I think I’d be pretty open to take it, just to know,” Detroit Lions safety Charles Washington said in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.
On the other hand, Glover Quin, Washington’s teammate, wouldn’t want to undergo CTE testing unless there was an available cure for the disease.
“I don’t know what it is, but if there’s a solution then you’ve got to make everybody take the test. If there’s no solution, why would I take the test? To live my life walking around like, ‘Man, you know I’ve got CTE, right? I might just get mad and slap you right now,'” remarked the 31-year-old safety.
As football players across the country wait for more information, Dr. McKee is looking forward to seeing what the future holds when it comes to CTE testing.
“These findings are exciting. They make me hopeful for the future about diagnosing CTE in veterans and athletes and pointing us in the direction of treatment,” McKee said.