There’s been increasing attention to a higher incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in athletes. According to a 2012 study, ALS was four times higher in former NFL players than the general population. NFL veteran Tim Green announced in November he’s been diagnosed with the disease, and more than 40 players or representatives have filed ALS-related claims against the NFL.
ALS is caused by the death of motor neurons, a type of cell that coordinates movement. Symptoms of ALS can include walking difficulties, tripping and falling, leg and hand weakness, slurred speech, and trouble swallowing.
Another progressive degenerative neurological condition that’s received more press in recent years is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Symptoms of CTE can include aggression, depression, impulsivity, irritability, short-term memory loss, and heightened occurrences of suicide.
A common thread between CTE and ALS is the presence of a protein called tau, which is known to cause clumps in the brain that lead to cell death. These clumps are a telltale sign of CTE and have also been found in the brains of some former NFL players with ALS.