Why do so many retired NFL players lose their hard-earned millions and end up destitute? Why are football players three to five times more likely to develop major depression than their fans? The answer is gridiron dementia, permanent brain damage caused by blows to the head during games or practice. In this book the author launches a national effort to alert players, parents, coaches, trainers, and school administrators to the dangers of repeated concussions.
Bennet Omalu, MD is the forensic pathologist who first identified gridiron dementia. He has examined the brains of retired NFL players who suffered from dementia and major depression due to repeated concussions sustained while playing professional football. Dr. Omalu has published extensively in respected scientific journals and is a member of more than 17 professional organizations.
Review by Dr. Daniel Amen:
This book may save your child's life:
This book may save your child's life. Literally. Being a brain imaging physician for the last 20 years I have seen many, many brain injuries in children, teens, and adults who played football and other contact sports. In this book, renowned neuropathologist Bennet Omalu takes an authoratative look inside the skulls of three retired NFL players to uncover a new type of dementia called Gridiron Dementia. You can read about Dr. Omalu's struggle with the NFL hired physicians, which is a fascinating story all by itself, and learn about the lives and deaths of some amazing athlete warriors. The book is beautifully written, insightful, and very important. I highly recommend it.
