Bruce Murray, why football is associated with brain damage

The risk of concussion in athletes, sports such as soccer and hockey often comes to mind. But researchers are also focusing on another sport, football.

Former soccer star Bruce Murray, who retired in 1995 after repeated concussion and clashes, struggles with memory and his days on the field are chronicHe talks about why he caused the trauma. He has encephalopathy. Concussion is already associated with CTE, but researchers now believe that smaller repetitive blows to the head may also be the cause.

Stealth disease has no cure and can only be diagnosed after death. Symptoms of CTE include memory problems, simple activity organizing and planning problems, and behavioral changes such as lack of motivation and impatience.

Murray, who took the lead in the game in 1990, joined Team U.S.A after maintaining his reputation as a fearless player at Clemson University. I played. During the match in Saudi Arabia, he sometimes kept looking at the stars in aggressive play, including when a Saudi player's knee caught his head.

"I was kneeling on my hands and knees trying to find out where my equilibrium was, but for the next 6 weeks to a month I went to a place and why there I didn't know if he was there, "he told CBS News. 'Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon La Pook.

Murray continued to experience post-concussion symptoms such as sleep deprivation, headaches, and lightheadedness, so he finally decided to cut his shoes at the age of 29. 

"My body just felt like I was beaten," he said.

When CBS News visited Murray, Maryland and his family two years ago, he was plagued by his recent loss of memory, including one that was particularly upset. He was waiting to return from his store when his wife and son came out in his car, but he didn't immediately notice his wife Lynn.

Due to the history of Murray's concussion, the couple contacted the Center for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as the CTE Center, at Boston University. Since CTE can only be diagnosed after death, researchers scanned Murray's head for clues. It turned out that his brain tissue was atrophied or contracted. 

CTE Center Director Dr. Ann McKee has hundreds of dead veterans and athletes, including soccer player Aaron Hernandez, who committed suicide while serving life imprisonment for murder. I examined my brain. She found that concussion was not the only cause of CTE, but asymptomatic blow damage accumulated over time, increasing the risk of CTE. I warn you that there is.

McKee is concerned about the risk of head injuries caused by putting a soccer ball on his head, and states that "getting your head out of soccer is controversial." An estimated 13 million children play soccer in the United States. McKee believes he needs to do more to protect athletes of all ages.

"These balls are coming from a distance at a very high speed, which shocks the head and later leads to these injuries," she said.

US football, which governs sports from kindergarten to elite levels, has an extensive cerebral concussion protocol that bans or limits headers for children under the age of 13. But when it comes to subcontracting hits for older players, US football has told CBS News that it is waiting for further investigation. The organization declined the request for a camera interview.

Murray said his condition appeared to be stable, but he suffered from memory, concentration and balance. He still enjoys coaching youth soccer, but he believes that the sport he loves may need to be changed to make it safer for everyone.

"I think US football needs to deal with this," Murray said. "It's called football all over the world. What if I rewrite the rules? Do I have to keep the ball in my head?"