Alan Pearce
@alanpearcephd
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Neurophysiologist. Adjunct Professor. Concussion and repetitive brain trauma in sport. Views my own
Melbourne, Australia
Joined September 2014
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Wearing headgear for sport does not protect against concussion, Australian experts warn via
@donnadlu
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For the 1st time ever in two separate interviews on radio this morning I was thanked by the host for the work I've done in my neurophysiology research, and the neuropathology work of the Australian Sports Brain Bank. We do this work independently and with limited funding support.
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"I passed the test, but I ruled myself out. I had a bit of blurry vision, & with my concussions, I kind of get them delayed. I know the concussion test off by heart now...I’ve done that a couple of times now, where I’ve passed it, then we’ve ruled me out"
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I'm getting tired ranting about glorifying of concussion in sport. Good to see Lewis has been assessed and is being managed; but remember, using language like this legitimises brain injury.
#protectthebrain
@drmbuckland
@ChrisNowinski1
@Wendycarlisle
@ScatConcussion1
@ConcussionLF
😲SMASHED!😲
Jaydn Su'A has absolute HAMMERED Lachlan Lewis with one of the hits of the year...
Only to be sin binned a minute later!🏉
STREAM:
#9WWOS
#NRL
#NRLSouthsBulldogs
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A leading researcher into concussion in sport has called on the AFL to be more transparent over its research into the long-term health impacts on its players.
via
@MelissaLDavey
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I'm sure every biomechanist is kicking themselves for not designing a study like this...
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Like previous years, 2023 continued the frustration of poor concussion management of athletes across many sports. In 2024 my hope is that the science is taken more seriously to look after athlete brain health than any word salad that athlete health and wellbeing is a priority.
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Concussion is NOT a head knock, it's a brain injury!
What did Taylor Swift say to Travis Kelce?
Wrong answers only
2K
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Evidence worldwide is showing that concussion recovery is not a week, or even 11 or 12 days, but a 28 to 30 day process. Don't imply that this player's recovery is unusually long. This is a brain injury we are talking about not just a 'knock to the head'
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Why? When systematic reviews and studies in Australian rules show *no* differences in concussion rates between helmeted and non-helmeted players. But an "AFL-endorsed" helmet? I sense another revenue source...
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The head of the Australian Sports Brain Bank, Associate Professor Michael Buckland, described the results of the study as “disturbing”…“I would love to see codes not only have a concussion policy but also a policy on CTE minimisation,” Buckland said.
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This is an unfortunate incident, & clearly more serious than "a head knock". Decades of concussion research has shown that helmets protect the skull bone from fracture & lacerations, but does not protect the brain, as the impact still places stretch & strain forces on neurons.
Exclusive: The devastated partner of a Melbourne man who suffered severe brain trauma from a head knock during a local footy match wants helmets to become mandatory at all levels of football.
@theheraldsun
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I wrote some words for
@GuardianAus
Contact sports can contribute to chronic brain trauma. It’s time face up to it and address the risks
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Coach John Madden calling Giants-Vikings game in 1993. RIP
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This cannot be true. A player cannot and should not be clinically cleared to return to play in less than 24 hours after a diagnosed concussion.
#protectthebrain
@nrlphysio
@drmbuckland
@DrBenKoh
@ChrisNowinski1
@ed_eddaly
@joewilliams_tew
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AFLW player Heather Anderson the first female athlete to be diagnosed with CTE in landmark case via
@ABCaustralia
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On some days I wonder if sports organisations truely value players' brain health over and above the pursuit of maintaining the status quo of the product. This doesn't make me "anti-sport" but rather "pro-athlete" (at all levels).
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CTE is not just another mental illness, but a brain disease. It does not occur in only pro athletes, but in athletes at all levels of sport. It is not just seen in American football, but across all contact sports. It is more than just concussion.
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Thanks to Hawthorn Amateur Football Club for inviting me to speak on concussion & CTE with a donation toward Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia. Hoping to get to more clubs & associations to continue awareness & change attitudes towards brain injury in sport at the coalface.
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The message is not getting through. There is no such thing as a "light" concussion. A concussion is a brain injury, period.
@ChrisNowinski1
@adamjohnwhite
@Wendycarlisle
@joshuawells93
@drmbuckland
h/t
@nrlphysio
Goodwin: Viney had a really light concussion so he’ll be good to go next week.
Lockhart had a minor corky so he will be available next week as well.
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Great to have our work recognised internationally. Privileged to be working alongside
@drmbuckland
@CathSuter
@affscientific
Heather Anderson, first professional female athlete to be diagnosed with degenerative brain disease CTE
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Two things:
1. Please don't forget the families behind these diagnoses of CTE; and
2. We would not be here without science done by independent researchers, and the important work of the Australian Sports Brain Bank
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It's articles like this that perpetuate the myth that brain injuries are not serious (b/c they would do it all again w/o consideration). Too many players retire too soon & too many older ex-players suffering b/c of these archaic attitudes. We must do better with culture change.
The last thing Xavier Duursma remembers before being KO’d on Thursday night is laying this tackle. He doesn’t recall the collision or the 3/4 time tears & didn’t leave his house for three days, but would do it all again in a heartbeat next week.
📱
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Mandatory rest period for 28 days after concussion
What
#rugbyleague
opinion do you have that would see others react like this to you?!
Cmon be honest!
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We need to change the language around concussions. Concussions are brain injuries. Nothing 'minor' about that.
#donotdownplay
Thanks for highlighting in the media
@AJMithen
@della79
@nrlphysio
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After the generous mansplaining advice given to me on doing "pillow helmet" research earlier this week, I wrote this for today's
@australian
Please don't @ me, just look at the science
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We ask former players to seriously consider pledging their brains to the Australian Sports Brain Bank and also we need financial donations to support the research at
#AusBrainBank
Professor Pearce said.
#protectthebrain
@heraldsunmick
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He's not visibly shaken, he's suffered a brain injury (not head injury). Some serious question now need to be asked.
"He's been visibly shaken."
Paddy McCartin comes off with a head injury. 🤕
📺 Watch
#AFLSwansPower
LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo:
✍️ BLOG
🔢 MATCH CENTRE
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"Leading sports neuroscientist Alan Pearce said the AFL’s move towards trialling helmets at community level is one of the “dumbest” moves made by the code after research has repeatedly proven “headgear doesn’t work” when it comes to combating concussion."
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This is an example of why the
@ConcussionLF
Australia
#mediaproject
is so important. We need to properly educate commentators and journalists around concussion and CTE - they are not the same thing.
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Thank you
@marnievinall
for accurately describing Bonnici's history as brain injuries, rather than the devalued "head knocks".
Language matters.
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With all this talk in Aussie rules about having a concussion sub (or not) affecting the cosmetics of the game at AFL level, we seem to be forgetting the one thing here.
Brain health.
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Many of us have been proposing this for years. Good to see that it is finally being seriously considered. Hope other sports throw away traditions for smarter training, and safer sport for all.
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"There are some who feel that players...did so in the knowledge of the risks assoc with a tough, physical sport. The counter-argument is there is a clear difference between a broken bone & progressive brain damage & that no player signed up for the latter"
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"I just saw him then & he seemed fine..." Kangaroos assist coach Xavier Clarke said post-match
This sort of language must change. Concussion is an evolving injury & being asymptomatic or "appearing fine" is no indication of the physiology within his brain
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Great to see a small but dedicated group front up for a brisk walk and fly the flag to raise awareness about CTE. Did get some double takes on the way and especially for the photo at the G! (Which was great).
@ConcussionLF
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"...adolescents who reported concussion were at increased odds of reporting poor mental health & suicidal behaviors...an increased number of concussive events may be associated with sig greater odds of reporting suicidal attempts particularly among males"
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“There is a common perception it’s related primarily to concussion, but in fact it’s repeated impact to the brain that is the predominant cause – and the more blows over time, the higher the risk.”
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Finally the AIS have recommended changes to concussion protocols that we have, for many years, have been calling for. (And was the recommendation in some sports in the 1980s/90s).
Would be nice if AIS gave acknowledgement to our work and advocacy.
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I’ve heard some pretty extravagant excuses in my time researching concussions, but this is right up there with the best of them.
Recognise the signs & symptoms of concussion, remove them from play, do not return on same day. Do not ignore the brain when dealing with facial injury
🗣"He was worried he lost a tooth."
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel gives an update on Reece James after suffering a collision during the game.
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Concussion researcher Prof Alan Pearce believes reduction in contact exposure is more effective…”We’ve just got to try & reduce the load for kids…You’re potentially reducing 10yrs worth of exposure to CTE in a junior player” Pearce said
via
@dan_walsh64
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Alarmed by the damage they have discovered in the brains of former athletes, the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
@PathologyRCPA
on Wed released a position statement on CTE and its link to repetitive head trauma and concussion.
@angusthomson_
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Asked whether Mr Pontin died from Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
"It's a very imprecise term," neuropathologist Willie Stewart said, adding: "CTE is his precise form of dementia. He didn't have Alzheimer's disease."
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Concussion is not just an elite athlete issue, it’s not just a football issue either. Concussion is more than a knock to the head, it is a brain injury and needs to be taken seriously by all parts of the community. Nice article
@DamienRactliffe
on concussions in community sport.
Veteran community footballer Paul Edwards has little memory of the match which permanently scarred his brain and turned his world upside down.
@theagesport
@alanpearcephd
@VAFA_HQ
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“This new paper argues rightly for a more transparent and player-centred approach to reaching that consensus and I strongly welcome its recommendations which should be given serious consideration” Kevin Brennan MPsaid
Well done lead author
@TheNeuroTimes
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"AFL boss Andrew Dillon has rejected calls for independent docs to be used for concussion during matches after Geelong's Jeremy Cameron suffered delayed symptoms a day after he played"
When the school principal supports the kids marking their own homework
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"No longer can World Rugby hide in the grey area that is conflicting or yet to be determined science. Causation is causation, and if the age-old argument ‘we didn’t know what we were dealing with’ ever did apply, it applies no longer." via
@Allanthus
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Investigating sports concussion protocols still does not address the elephant in the room. CTE is a disease of exposure to repetitive head trauma. I hope this is not overlooked.
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“On Wednesday morning, a former player walked into the office of one of Australia’s leading neurologists and told him he had lost everything. He’d lost his job. He’d lost custody of his kids. He’d lost his cognitive function. He is only in his mid-30s.”
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Had a great evening presenting with
@drmbuckland
and Renée Tuck at the concussion and cte symposium organised by Geelong Sports Medicine Centre raising funds for Australian Sports Brain Bank. A sold out auditorium with 100% proceeds going to Brain Bank research.
#AusBrainBank
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And this is exactly the reason why we have been advocating, based on our science, for longer recovery times after concussion for over a decade. When will our work be truely acknowledged by these sports and sports institutes?
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This is my dream/goal here in Australia. To have every club at every level fearlessly promoting concussion awareness and player welfare. Thank you
@peterrobinson86
Always grateful to
@CRFCAcademy
for their support in promoting Player Welfare Re Concussion/Brain Injury
This is from 2 yrs ago.
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The silence is deafening about this news here in Australia...
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Wow, just wow. To compare a chronic sore shoulder to a diagnosis of early onset dementia as an analogy of knowing the risks of the sport is "stunning" to say the least. I'm speechless. Is this Goldman's dilemma all over again?
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Somedays I just despair at the work we are trying to do to make sports safer.
And the rugby-friendly media broadcasters describing this action as a "brain explosion" rather than calling it for what it is (an intentional act) is disappointing.
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Well, this didn’t take long…
FIFA’s concussion protocol for World Cup called ‘utter disgrace’ after Iran goalkeeper allowed to continue after head injury - The Athletic
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So what happens if “scans”, or other tests, shows junior players have accumulated a degree of micro-damage, during their pre-teen and teenage years, before they start their professional careers?
#AskingForAFriend
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Calling concussion a 'head knock' is like describing Ryan Papenhuyzen's injury as 'rolling his ankle'
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“The change brings the National Institute of Health into line with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…It means two of the leading independent medical research bodies in the world are in agreement on the causes of CTE.”
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Concussion researcher Paul McCrory earns nine more retractions, nearly 40 expressions of concern via
@ivanoransky
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A record number of women have pledged to donate their brains to the Australian Sports Brain Bank since the discovery of CTE in former AFLW player Heather Anderson in July.
#AusBrainBank
@drmbuckland
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It speaks volumes when players and fans have more concern about a concussed player's brainhealth than the staff put in charge.
#protectthebrain
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This is how technology can assist helping reduce athlete impact exposure risk, rather than recording data to try and work out how much impact causes a concussion. Well done Harlequins and
@PROTECHTPro
on training smart.
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"Giants Toby Greene has revealed he used to play through concussions, hiding his symptoms from club medical staff in order to stay available for matches"
But we kept getting told that club drs know their players best & no objective markers are needed...
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The [parliamentary] inquiry has named itself “concussion in sport”, but one of the first duties an in-the-know scientist may perform is to recommend a changing the term “concussion” to “brain injury”
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“He’s obviously realised that he won’t play at his optimum if he’s got blurry vision...I think he’s tougher in ruling himself out than trying to be tough and courageous playing on. This is an incredible moment in understanding concussion as a brain injury”
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Head Noise is a groundbreaking investigative 6-part podcast series by James Graham and The Australian’s Jessica Halloran. It looks at the long-term consequences of concussion and the risks, rewards and responsibilities involved in playing contact sports.
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"Billy Guyton...died at 33. Examination of his brain by the [NZ] Brain Bank showed he had stage 2 CTE. A growing worldwide consensus of scientists believe CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head, but NZ & World Rugby are yet to accept that link"
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“Up until now, the defence was that you...knew it was a dangerous sport, so you knew what you were getting into. The 2 exceptions were that if you were an employee & if there was negligence. It’s now been found Ty was an employee, so he can...take action”
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The narrative around this injury needs to change. These are not just 'head knocks'; we need to call them for what they are, brain injuries. And they can be catastrophic.
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"The AFL has recognised the link between head trauma and the degenerative brain disease CTE in its official submission to a Senate inquiry, but says the association between head trauma and long-term psychological health is less clear."
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Dr Barry O'Driscoll: World Rugby is playing Russian Roulette with head injury assessments via
@thetimes
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“Neurophysiologist Dr Alan Pearce the Victorian manager of the Australian Sports Brain Bank said the CISGs findings on CTE were disappointing “Is this insulting to the families of those who have had loved ones die & were found to have CTE?” Pearce [asked]”
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“We’re still talking about concussions as a cause of CTE, which they’re not. And we’re still debating cause & effect where it’s not being debated in other countries. It’s even accepted by the NFL." via
@app85
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"For non-medically qualified people to say he was OK or that he could have come back on the field (is wrong)…we can't be led by opinions of non-medically trained people or by the player himself
It's a medical diagnosis that takes place”Graham Annesley NRL
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“We [researchers] have never been about anti-sport or anti-football or rugby or soccer … the message we are trying to get across is that we want to have a safer sport, Professor Pearce said.”
With
@drmbuckland
via
@ABCaustralia
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Heartening to see players checking in on others, even opponents, when one comes off second best in contests. Attitudes are slowly changing.
Trey Ruscoe checks in with Eddie Betts straight after a nasty collision.
Class act 🙏
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We have emerging evidence that symptom resolution and neurological recovery are disparate, with neurological recovery being as long as 28 days. We can't return players too soon just becuase they say or look okay. Ping
@dougleague
Things need to change 😡😡😡 a player can return to play in 7 days after being unconscious for 45 seconds, it’s just not right, a boxer would have 6 months off 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️🏉🧠
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Headlines like this are disappointing given concerns of brain injuries. Rather than a young player's dream debut "squashed", maybe it could be framed as ensuring career longevity because medics were looking after his brain health. But that would be boring hey.
#protecthebrain
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The decision to allow Issa Diop to return to the field of play after being assessed for concussion in just two minutes, while still on the pitch, shows just how deeply flawed this new protocol is: Peter McCabe Headway UK
@adamjohnwhite
@NathanHowarth1
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"The Sunday Mirror can reveal Dr McCrory was employed by the RFL in 2002 to rewrite its concussion management strategy and head injury guidelines."
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Great to see a respected medical College providing a strong position on the risk of CTE and its links to repetitive brain trauma. Thank you
@PathologyRCPA
The theme for
#IPD2023
is CTE. To increase awareness and understanding about CTE, RCPA has developed a position statement with the Australian Sports Brain Bank and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney. Read the position statement
#Pathology
#PathTwitter
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‘Existential threat to professional sport’: Brain disease could affect one in ten footballers | The New Daily
@drmbuckland
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"The risk of dementia was more than doubled in rugby players, roughly the same as previously observed among soccer players. They also had a 3-fold risk of Parkinson's Disease...However the study found...players were 15-times more likely to develop MND"
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There was clear evidence of a causal link between repeated head trauma &...CTE, the committee said. While there remained some questions about the degree of exposure, “these questions should not be used to undermine the fundamental nature of that link”
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Have we learnt nothing from decades of research? Recent data has shown those with 3+ concussions have sig worse cognitive function later in life. Yet we send our "heroic" athletes down this path without concern. What message does this send?
#disappointed
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"Pearce, a neurophysiologist & expert on concussion & repetitive brain trauma in sport, labelled [better technique] suggestions "dangerous & naïve...Simplistic answers show lack of understanding of what happens to the brain in these impacts" he told WWOS
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"Concussion is a massive issue facing our game. I hope from this, a terrible result for me personally, can come some positive outcomes for the future of player safety.” Brayshaw said.
Yes.
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In this cohort study of 991 participants with mTBI, GCS score 15 & negative head CT scan...73% had incomplete recovery 2-wk after injury. At 6-mnth after the injury, 44% had functional recovery & 56% had incomplete recovery.
12-days huh?
@dougleague
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“Evidence of altered corticomotor inhibition in older adults with a history of repetitive neurotrauma. A transcranial magnetic stimulation study.”
#JNeurologicalSci
My latest study. Thank you
@jamietallent
for your invaluable input with this paper.
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I argued this over a decade ago, but no one listens to neuroscientists...Nice to see the culture starting to change.
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"The pooled results of 6311 players and 173,383 exposure hrs showed 0% SRC reduction per 1000 hrs of exposure in the experimental group compared with the control group, with an injury risk ratio of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.82-1.30 P=0.79)"
Zero percent reduction.
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My latest research study published in Frontiers of Neurology | Chronic Neurophysiological Effects of Repeated Head Trauma in Retired Australian Male Sport Athletes with
@drmbuckland
and
@DrRowenaMobbs
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“It’s a very difficult decision for Paddy psychologically, and he would need support to deal with this, but medical retirement should be considered. Athletes need protecting from themselves.” Pearce said
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It’s a brain injury. We cannot keep being so short-sighted as to place selection and form as more important than an injury to the brain.
“You miss the next week now as well if you get concussed. I think a lot of players now would be worried about that, they don't want to miss the next week especially if players are in form slumps or on the edge of selection."
Brad Crouch on players not avoiding telling doctors
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It's great to see athletes being treated so well for their muscular injuries, yet we rush back players (team mates even) following brain injuries. We have our priorities wrong.
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