Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s recent disclosure of his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis has reignited discussions regarding the possible connections between contact sports and brain health risks.
Favre announced his condition during congressional testimony concerning alleged misuse of taxpayer funds related to a Mississippi welfare scandal. His health was mentioned in context with an investment he made in a firm purportedly developing a breakthrough concussion medication. “I’m sure you’ll understand why it’s too late for me because I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s,” he stated.
Having played 20 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Green Bay Packers, Favre retired 13 years ago. In a 2022 radio interview, he estimated that he experienced thousands of concussions throughout his career. He noted the alarming nature of concussions, expressing, “Every time my head hit the turf, there was ringing or stars going, flash bulbs, but I was still able to play. That’s what’s kind of frightening about the concussion thing. It’s the ones that seem minor that do the damage.”
Sports with frequent physical contact—like football, boxing, and rugby—pose risks for concussions and head injuries. Shannon Shaffer, a nurse practitioner affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic and Rune Labs, stated that the brain can endure only so much trauma. “When there’s this kind of trauma—be it sports-related or otherwise—we know it’s going to affect it down the line,” she said.
Preliminary studies suggest a correlation between these sports and Parkinson’s disease, along with other neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, and CTE. Research indicates that even a single concussion can increase the likelihood of receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis by over 55%.
The NFL has not yet responded to inquiries regarding Favre’s diagnosis and its relationship with neurodegenerative diseases.
A study conducted last year revealed that individuals with a history of playing football had a 61% higher chance of exhibiting Parkinson’s symptoms or acquiring the disease. Another study from 2018 similarly indicated that repeated head impacts from participating in contact sports were linked to early signs of Parkinson’s.
Hannah Bruce, a researcher involved in the recent study, acknowledged the complexity of isolating the contributions of football to Favre’s case. She said, “It’s hard to say whether it’s exactly because of football or if it just increased his risk or odds of developing Parkinson’s disease, or if there’s other factors at play. But we’re seeing more football players come forward. It definitely says something.”
Neurologists who treated boxing icon Muhammad Ali found that his medical records supported a diagnosis of young-onset Parkinson’s disease, but a definitive connection to head trauma could not be established. Ali passed away in 2016.
Parkinson’s disease is characterized as a neurodegenerative condition that causes the deterioration of nerve cells in the brain. It results in symptoms like tremors, muscle rigidity, and difficulties with balance, walking, and communication. Treatments often involve prescription medications or deep brain stimulation to alleviate symptoms.
Repetitive head trauma is recognized as a possible catalyst for Parkinson’s as it can induce inflammation leading to the gradual loss of nerve cells. However, it is among several risk factors, which also include advancing age, genetic predispositions, and exposure to certain pesticides.
Dr. Kevin Crutchfield, a neurologist, emphasized that other causes must be considered before attributing Parkinson’s directly to football injuries. “The default isn’t, ‘Oh, you played football, you got Parkinson’s,’” he remarked, noting that while many have played in the NFL, a significant rise in Parkinson’s cases is not evident among players.
Thor Stein, who directs molecular research at Boston University’s CTE Center, noted that CTE can serve as a precursor to Parkinson’s disease. Numerous former football players have displayed signs consistent with CTE, which can only be diagnosed posthumously. Stein indicated, “The more you get these repetitive hits to the head…the greater your risk is for developing a number of different degenerative diseases, including both CTE and Parkinson’s disease.”
A July study involving brain donors with confirmed CTE highlighted that nearly 25% showed parkinsonism symptoms. Favre expressed uncertainty in 2021 concerning whether he himself had CTE.
Dr. Crutchfield advised that athletes should take sufficient recovery time after any head trauma to mitigate risks of more severe injuries. “The brain is much more susceptible to recurrent hits if your brain hasn’t had enough time to heal,” he explained, cautioning against athletes concealing concussions to continue participating in their sports.