Researchers used brain scan images, taken with an MRI machine, to study two areas of the brain. One is the hippocampus, which is associated with memory. The other is the thalamus. It’s associated with relaying sensory and motor signals and helps regulate sleep and alertness among other functions.
“Indeed those areas were shrinking even very early on when these guys are active fighters,” he said.
Bernick said it’s possible other parts of the brain were affected, but they were not studied. He likened the consistency of the brain to gelatin and says
brain fibers can be twisted and whipped around in head trauma.
The reason boxers and mixed martial artists are being examined has to do with the study’s location.
“We’re in Las Vegas. So Las Vegas is the fight capital of the world. A lot of fighters train here and of course we have a lot of fights here,” he said.
He added the study has the full support of the fight industry, as well as promoters and the Nevada Athletic Commission.
“We hope to give regulatory agencies, the athletic commissions --could be another sport, NFL, hockey -- objective guidelines on how they protect their athletes. So in other words, if a 35-year-old fighter comes and wants to be licensed in Nevada how does our Athletic Commission decide if he should? There really are no objective markers,” he said.
While the overall study results have been released, all the fighters were given their individual results in confidence. The study will continue to follow them.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25