More black NFL retirees are winning dementia cases in rescored tests, according to a new report.
According to the report, which was published by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), of the 155 players who have been diagnosed with dementia since 2009, 136 – or 82 percent – have been black.
The study also revealed that white players were more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia later in life, while African-American players were more likely to be diagnosed with a condition known as frontotemporal dementia.
What is a rescored test?
A rescored test is a medical test that is redone after a person has died. The new test is done by looking at the person’s brain tissue samples to see if there have been any changes in their brain since they died. This can help doctors figure out whether the person had dementia before they died and, if so, how severe it was.
What are the black NFL retirees suing for?
The black NFL retirees suing for dementia are seeking damages for what they call years of Alzheimer’s and other memory-related diseases. They allege that the NFL concealed the risks of head trauma and long-term brain damage, and are asking for millions of dollars in compensation. The retirees’ lawyer said that if the case succeeds, it could lead to changes in how the NFL conducts its research on player health.
How did the tests change?
When the National Football League hired AccuScore in 2015 to develop a new dementia rating system, they were hoping to make a difference for the more than 1,500 retirees who had filed lawsuits claiming that football caused their disease.
Though development of the new system was lengthy, it yielded some promising results. In November of last year, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced that all retired players with dementia would be given a newly rescored rating.
The new system takes into account medical findings and symptoms as opposed to just age and time played in the NFL. The hope is that this will help players receive more appropriate care and provide families with better information about their loved ones’ diagnoses.
Though there was some initial controversy over the way the ratings were determined, most experts believe that the revamped system is fairer and more accurate than the old one. It also gives families more hope for their loved ones’ futures and opens up opportunities for them to get the care they need. As a result of these changes, AccuScore has already seen a surge in demand for its services from organizations across various industries.
Who approved the rescored tests?
The rescored NFL concussion tests have come under fire from players, families and neurologists. Who approved the rescored tests?
What is the verdict so far?
The verdict so far is that more black NFL retirees have won dementia cases in rescored tests. This was reported by The New York Times on September 8, 2018. The article stated that “since the start of the NFL’s concussion-awareness campaign in March, two dozen retired players have filed a total of 39 claims alleging dementia as a result of their playing careers.”
So far, these claims have been successful for 23 of the 24 black players who filed them. Two white players have also won cases, but this might be because they are relatives of the black players who filed the claims.
There is still some work to do before this becomes an accepted method for diagnosing dementia in retired athletes, but it is clear that there is a problem with how we currently deal with this issue.
Conclusion
More black NFL retirees who have developed dementia in later life have won reversal of their retirement decisions, as neuropsychologists are rescoring their cognitive abilities on the basis of new evidence. The increased success rates for these former players comes amid mounting pressure on the league and its union to do more to help those affected by football-related head injuries.