A new study found evidence of long-term damage in the brains of six males who formerly played high school football but did not continue playing through college or as professionals.
Researchers from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy examined the brains of 85 deceased former athletes and military veterans to check for traces of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that can be triggered by repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries. Another 18 subjects without a history of brain injury served as the control group.
Of the 68 brains found to have the condition, 15 came from people who played football only in high school or in high school and college.
