Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Tom Crann
St. Paul, Minn.

Football and its impact on the brain

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!
Matt Birk
Former Vikings center Matt Birk jokes that doctors may not find much when they study his brain, which he will donate to science. However, he hopes it will provide some help in researching the impact that playing football has on a player's life after his NFL career has ended.
AP Photo/Nick Wass, File

Now that the football season is underway, players at all levels are starting to get sidelined by gridiron injuries.

Scrapes and sprains normally heal as expected - but, when a football player takes a hard hit to the helmet, some doctors think concussions can lead to a more mysterious and long-lasting condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.

Now, three current NFL players are planning to donate their brains to help find out just what kind of damage football-related head injuries can have.

Former Minnesota Vikings' Pro Bowl Center Matt Birk suffered from a mild concussion in the 2004 season and he is one of the NFL players involved in the study at Boston University.

Tom Crann talked with Matt Birk, now with the Baltimore Ravens, and Dr. Bob Stern from the Boston University School of Medicine. He is the Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Gallery
1 of 1
Matt Birk
Former Vikings center Matt Birk jokes that doctors may not find much when they study his brain, which he will donate to science. However, he hopes it will provide some help in researching the impact that playing football has on a player's life after his NFL career has ended.
AP Photo/Nick Wass, File