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How damaging are dangerous hits to athletes?

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    Study finds link between mild head injuries and brain damage later in life

  • Duration 3:34
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-- at least four current or ex NFL players have killed themselves this year.

The chiefs linebackers -- on Belcher in a murder suicide over the weekend as we've been reporting.

The titans receiver OJ Murdoch shot himself the legendary linebacker Junior Seau who could forget and the Atlanta Falcons safety -- -- -- -- -- autopsy showed he had a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated concussions.

Last year the former bears star -- viewers and shot himself in the chest.

He left a note saying please.

See that my brain is given to the NFL.

Researchers found he had brain damage related to his hard hits now this new study new study that just came out.

Adding to the body of evidence linking repeated brain injuries or I should -- head injuries to brain damage.

Boston University researchers have found that 80% of people with a history of mild brain trauma.

Later showed signs of damage that can cause memory loss was depression even dementia.

Doctor doctor trader -- -- who joins us now he's in your ophthalmologist.

Who specializes in issues related to head in brain injuries doctor thank you.

Thank you a lot of these and that all all -- -- -- -- just feels like we're in news from the future mode on the NFL frankly.

It really does show up today story.

About the Boston University.

Report is significant because as you said more than 68 of the 89 people.

That they studied had some evidence.

Getting hit frequently they play professional sports 55 of them played actually the NFL.

So while you can't pin your.

Facts directly to the cause and effect.

There's a strong suggestion.

That when you have read -- head injuries that it leads to what they called CTE chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

What this study also does is breaks it down into four different stages.

Because we really need to look carefully now when these symptoms come on in terms of the headaches.

The anger the depression and then ultimately even later stages that dementia.

In terms of what we need to do to look more aggressively.

-- those people that are prone to this.

-- -- -- -- you know there's there's nothing worse than being that parent who has a child wants to play football and -- -- that parent.

It out well -- don't do it don't get hurt but it and we reached a point in your professional estimation.

-- parents need to further consider this matter before letting their kids hit the football field in the first place.

For sure there's no question about it we've seen enough.

In the recent months about the NFL players who went on to have severe injuries today's study reflects.

About the incidence of brain changes that can happen in those people who have.

-- There's also some evidence to believe that maybe there is a certain genetic factor maybe certain people -- pre disposed to developing this.

But there's no question that parents that are watching today.

Need to be highly suspicious.

And highly cautious about having their kids participate.

In high school football either if they don't get the right tests done if they're not followed frequently.

And certainly to make sure that the right protection is put in place to at least absorb some of the shock.

-- that the equipment has come a long way in recent years doctors -- -- -- -- live with this doctor thanks very much.

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