I read an interesting story in the Wall Street Journal today, which raises the question as to whether or not helmets should be banned in the National Football League (NFL). In recent months the NFL has come under scrutiny after research revealed the long-term dangers associated with concussions and other head injuries sustained by players during a game.

Though everyone knows football has always been a dangerous sport, recent research proves that although a player may seem fine after an injury, and even though medical teams have cleared the player to return to the field, the dangerous and life-threatening effects of the injury will remain long after the game has finished.

Congress even called a hearing on the subject last month, questioning NFL officials as to the care of retired players. Roger Goodell, commissioner of the NFL, defended the league’s response to the issue of concussions and the care of retired players during questioning from the House Judiciary Committee.

But now the recent question has been asked, “Why do football players wear helmets in the first place? And more important, could the helmets be part of the problem?” Some believe that removing the helmets will encourage players to be less forceful when playing, and in turn will reduce the number of head injuries. Though other medical professionals claim that helmets are the reason serious injuries and death are prevented in most cases.

Although there are conflicting beliefs as to what is best for players, the issue at hand remains: there is a dire need to prevent devestating long-term injuries in the NFL. The League needs to step up and find a way to protect it's players now, so that they will be protected long after the game is over.

Gay Culverhouse, President of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the daughter of their owner, testified before the House Judiciary Committee at its hearing on football brain injuries last Wednesday to, as she put it, “tell the truth about what’s going on while I still have the chance.”

In recent weeks, the National Football League and the players union have added programs to aid former players after pension and disability plans came under public fire two years ago. One helps with joint-replacement surgeries, another with cardiovascular health screenings. The most prominent is the 88 Plan, which helps pay expenses for players with dementia. While these assistance plans are needed in order to treat the hundreds of retired players who are suffering, prevention is still key.

You can read more on Culverhouse's mission in association with the NFL online here.

Experts in the field of neuroscience will discuss the integration of Military, Professional Sports and Youth Sports programs to better prevent, identify and treat brain injuries at a special Host Committee dinner discussion during the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation's Annual Angel Awards banquet, the organization announced today.

The SJBF also announced that 100% of the donations received from the American PABI Heroes Concert, which will be held after the Angel Awards Reception, as well as all of the online donations made during its live webcast will be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (which is building the National Intrepid Center of Excellence for Traumatic Brain Injury in Bethesda, MD).  All of these events will be held at Webster Hall in New York City on Tuesday, November 17 and will be open to the media.

The Discussion will be moderated by Dr. Daniel Perl, Director of the Neuropathology Division at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the host Committee Dinner Dialogue Discussion will feature:

• Dr. David Hovda, Director the UCLA Brain Injury Research Center who is advising the Pentagon on brain injuries
• Dr. Thom Mayer, Chairman of Best Practices and Medical Director for the NFL Players Association
• Dr. Gerard Gioia, Chief, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology; Director, Safe Concussion Outcome, Recovery & Education (SCORE) Program at Children's National Medical Center
• Mr. Chris Nowinski, President and CEO of the Sports Legacy Institute

Imediately following the Annual Angel Awards Reception, Webster Hall will be opened up for a concert performance by all the semi-finalists, with 100% of the ticket sales being donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.  The concert will be webcast live and all of the online donations made during the day will also be donated to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Ten bands who were selected this spring as semi-finalists from around the country compete during the day to become the "American PABI Hero." The bands competing include:

• Boston, MA: Slow Century
• New York, NY: April's End
• Raleigh, NC: The Wayves
• Raleigh, NC: Sights of Sound
• Miami, FL: The Nicole Patrick Band
• Columbus, OH: OfHuman
• Chicago, IL: ZC Flawless Drumline
• Dallas, TX: Lately
• Denver, CO: J. Co
• Los Angeles, CA: Me & Heath

The events will take place Tuesday, November 17, 2009, at Webster Hall, 125 East 11th Street, New York City beginning at 11:00 am - 3:00 pm with the American PABI Heroes Grand Finale. From 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Annual Angels Awards Reception will be held at a cost of $150 per person (VIP tickets: $1,000). Immediately following the dinner will be the Host Committee Dinner Dialogue Discussion about the Integration of Military, Professional and Youth Sports programs for the prevention, identification and treatment of brain injuries from 8:00 - 10:00 pm. Additionally, the American PABI Heroes Concert for The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund will be held from 8:00 pm - 12:00 am.

For questions or additional information, please contact Sarah Jane Brain Foundation's Communications Director, Jennipher Dickens at (212) 576-1180 or Jennipher@TheBrainProject.org.
 

On October 13, 2009, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC) introduced the Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury (PABI) Act of 2009. The bill states that Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury is the leading cause of death and disability for children and young adults under the age of 25 in the United States. The PABI Act also endorses the National Pediatric Acquired Brain Injury Plan, which is designed to develop a seamless, standardized, evidence-based system of care universally accessible for children, young adults and their families throughout the United States who suffer from PABIs.

50 representatives signed the Bill as co-sponsors, several of which are representatives from New Jersey. These members include: Rush Holt, Bill Pascrell, Steve Rothman, Leonard Lance Frank LoBiondo, Donald Payne, and Chris Smith. This is a great step forward in national recognition of PABI and I am proud of the above-mentioned New Jersey representatives who took the initiative to assist in moving forward with this necessary bill.

Last week, I attended the North America Brain Injury Society’s annual medical legal seminar in Austin, Texas.  The conference consisted of two programs running simultaneously, one a medical conference for medical providers and the other a medical legal program to educate both plaintiff and defense attorneys regarding traumatic brain injury.  The attendees were privileged to hear from the top doctors in the United States on such issues as neuroimaging, concussion in sports, neuropsychology issues and mild traumatic brain injury which was presented by Ronald Ruff, Ph.D.

There was also an outstanding presentation regarding the proposed pediatric national plan (PABI) by Ronald Savage, Ed.D. and Patrick Donohue.  Mr. Donohue is the founder of the Sara Jane Brain Injury Project and the leading force in having legislation introduced to set up a national pediatric acquired brain injury program.

On Saturday, we heard an outstanding program presented by Michael E. Nelson, Esq. of Seattle, Washington.  Mr. Nelson was the leading force in the enactment of the Lystedt Statute in Washington State regarding the issue of return to play after concussion in youth sports.  Mr. Nelson was instrumental in advancing legislation in Washington that was ultimately passed and signed which requires that a child who sustains a concussion during a sporting event be withheld from returning to play until that child is evaluated and cleared by a medical physician who specializes in the treatment and evaluation of children who have sustained brain injury.

On returning from the conference, I have begun to work on having such legislation introduced and passed here in New Jersey.