A college football team in Utah is testing curious caps this season. Brigham Young University players wear headsets that shine near‑infrared light onto their scalps. Early research suggests the devices may boost brain resilience and lower chronic traumatic encephalopathy risk. A B.Y.U. trial begun in 2021 showed reduced brain inflammation, prompting the team to buy more.
Scientists are exploring many unorthodox C.T.E. approaches: gut‑microbiome manipulation, vagus‑nerve stimulation, psychedelics, and repurposed anti‑inflammatories. A recent study estimates three in four former N.F.L. players who died from 2008‑2023 likely had C.T.E. Chris Nowinski calls it a “massive public health issue.” Dr. Allen Sills, the N.F.L.’s chief medical officer, says clinicians hope for better diagnostics soon.
The problem extends beyond sport; the Coast Guard admits rough seas can cause repeated brain trauma, and intimate‑partner violence survivors outnumber athletes in long‑term brain‑injury cases. No treatment exists yet, but athletes are trying alternatives. Marcus Mailei, a former N.F.L. fullback, started using a near‑infrared headset in 2020 after reading about another player’s recovery. After a year, he reported feeling “back on my feet.”
The therapy, photobiomodulation (PBM), dates to the 1960s. Near‑infrared photons penetrate the scalp, influencing blood flow and brain energy use. Current animal and human studies suggest PBM could be a non‑invasive option for athletes.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing