Brain Damage

[longrun2]

So the BBC publishes a big article claiming that someone has found the first case of brain damage comparable to the "punch-drunk" syndrome in a rugby player. Allegedly "The former rugby player had higher levels than a retired amateur boxer." ... "The condition has been recognised for more than a century, and until recently had been thought to only

Comments

[tweedisgood]

Actually they are not saying that *all* amateur boxers get punch drunk, only that the syndrome was previously thought to arise in that sport rather than in others - still doesn't necessarily compute of course. One is far more likely to get hay fever horseriding than skiing, but the majority of riders don't need Piriton (as I used to!).

Incidentally, equestrianism was the most dangerous last time I read up on it - all that being catapulted off head first at n miles an hour.

Headfirst onto stone floor in Scotland?

[longrun2]

Quote: "The former rugby player had higher levels than a retired amateur boxer.". Which implies that having levels higher than any retired amateur boxer is evidence of brain damage; if one wants to be generous one could say that they meant levels higher than a typical retired amateur boxer is evidence of brain damage. What they should have said was that Dr Stewart compared the ex-rugby player with one of the very few retired amateur boxers who had been diagnosed as punch-drunk.
"Headfirst onto stone floor in Scotland?" - I wasn't concussed that time. Possible brain damage but probably less than head-first onto tarmac in England.
Re equestrianism: I expect you are right; however the survey came up with cricket (which is why it was memorable).