Boxing dementia is a neurodegenerative disease that has become especially important for its associated characteristics. His other name, Boxer Syndrome, gives us a clue about his etiology.
The Latin word pugil refers to boxing, which in many cases is the cause of illness from repeated blows received.
- Getting the number of blows to the head that a boxer or athlete who practices contact sports receives throughout his career is not easy.
- So it is not so difficult to imagine the impact that beatings can have on people’s brains with the disease.
Boxing dementia is a disease caused by multiple multiple trauma and concussions that result in cortical atrophy of the brain.
This type of dementia was first described clinically in 1928 by pathologist and coroner Harrison Martland.
Currently, it is considered a variant of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, although initially it was not different from the others.
The distinction between the two became apparent when researchers realized that the symptoms of boxing dementia were in other populations.
The popularity of boxing in the early twentieth century has led many professionals and fans to turn to sport. At first, the results were not so obvious, but over the years, the number of people affected has increased significantly.
The main symptoms were apathy, psychotic characteristics, loss of coordination and marked general intellectual impairment. Scientists were clear: these changes were associated with repeated microlesions of the brain, the result of concussions.
Brain cortex atrophy results in an overall reduction in brain weight and metabolism. Normally, all brain structures are affected, altering their overall functionality.
However, this disease occurs in stages, gradually, and symptoms vary
The symptoms of pugilistic dementia are very varied and often overlap with those of other neurodegenerative diseases, however, we find a set of characteristics very present in those affected, which are accentuated as the disease progresses.
The main risk factor for pugilistic dementia is the practice of contact sports. Thus, the deterioration resulting from various injuries does not only occur in boxing; there are other sports with high incidence of the disease:
On the other hand, other risk factors may include
Pugilist dementia is not associated with a specific injury or a specific area of the brain, so its diagnosis is very complicated and une specific.
Behavioral and motor symptoms are often explored and evaluated by a neurologist and neuropsychologist. Neuroimaging tools, such as tomography, are also used to detect the depth of brain damage.
The main treatment is to avoid risk factors. In the case of a sport with the above characteristics, it should be practiced with the utmost care and protection.
If symptoms are already present, there are two general approaches
Boxing dementia is a very illustrative example of the effects of not taking care of our brain, the changes occur in the medium and long term, but the causes are very early.
Although there is generally no real perception of damage due to the immediate low impact, any corrosive activity of the nervous system causes significant damage in the future.
Therefore, respect for diet and consumption habits is a very important preventive factor for any type of dementia.
Finally, it should be noted that some popular practices are not entirely healthy, especially if the necessary precautionary measures are not applied.
Many former football players suffer traumatic brain injuries that condition them throughout their lives.
Thanks to the advancement of studies and the general awareness of these risks, certain measures are possible, such as the compensation paid by the American federation to former players and the investment in new research.
“The people you meet when you’re at the top may be the same people you meet when you go to hell. “Mike Tyson?