Sarah Ford | March 12, 2014
Study Finds Hormone Problems in Group of Retired NFL Players
By Nathan Fenno
Repeated head injuries among professional football players can lead to hormonal dysfunction and decreased quality of life, according to a study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma earlier this month.
The study found 16 of the 68 retired NFL players examined had pituitary hormonal deficiency. Thirty-four of the former players also showed evidence of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that included high blood pressure and high cholesterol that are also associated with low testosterone.
“This is really about quality of life and functioning at an optimal level,” said Dr. Daniel Kelly, the study’s co-author who is director of the Brain Tumor Center at Saint John’s Health Center and the John Wayne Cancer Institute. “If the pituitary gland isn’t working well, they don’t feel well. They don’t think well. It has a real effect on the quality of life.”
The retired players ranged in age from 30 to 65 and had median NFL experience of five seasons. Thirty-seven suffered three or more concussions during their careers.
Â
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Explore More Articles
Open Position – Application Specialist, Employee Assistance FundsÂ
Position: Application Specialist, Employee Assistance Funds Department: Charitable Grants Reporting Structure: Director, Charitable Grants Employment Type: Part-time, temporary Exemption Status: Non-exempt Location: Remote Overview of…
Open Position – Director of Business DevelopmentÂ
Position: Director of Business Development Department: Business Development Reporting Structure: VP, Business Development Employment Type: Full-time Exemption Status: Exempt Location: Remote Overview of the Role: …
Micro-Influencers and Nonprofits: Local Partnerships
What does your nonprofit’s digital presence look like these days? Having a website and social media accounts almost goes without saying, and your team likely…
Get Resources and Insights Straight To Your Inbox
Receive our monthly/bi-monthly newsletter filled with information about causes, nonprofit impact, and topics important for corporate social responsibility and employee engagement professionals, including disaster response, workplace giving, matching gifts, employee assistance funds, volunteering, scholarship award program management, grantmaking, and other philanthropic initiatives.
