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Winter Storm Hits Maryland, Part 3
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Ravens' Birk Puts Brain On The Line For Research
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CBS
The NFL is studying what concussions can do to the brain amid a growing outcry about the possible dangers of head injuries during football.
Ravens center Matt Birk explains his personal crusade to make the game safer to Denise Koch.
NFL football is the most watched sport in the nation, partly because of its hard-hitting action. But what toll do these hits take on the players?
"Your brain is just kind of constantly being jostled around," said Birk.
Birk loves the game. He has been in the NFL for 12 years. The Harvard graduate is well aware of the risks. He plans to donate his brain and spinal tissue to researchers after he dies. He's also providing a rare opportunity to track any head injuries when he's alive.
"What concerns me is the repeated trauma. I have had three concussions--one in high school, one in college, and I've had one in the NFL," said Birk.
Birk says he'll stop someday, but not because of the risk.
The NFL is studying the possible connection between repeated concussions and brain injuries. It has found former NFL players suffer memory-related diseases nearly 20 times the normal rate for men 30 to 49-years-old.
Dr. Andrew Tucker, the Ravens' team physician, is leading the NFL study examining traumatic brain injuries.
"Right now, there seems to be something to this," said Dr. Tucker.
Beloved Baltimore Colts legend John Mackey can barley remember his football career, even when he is being coached by his wife, Sylvia.
"John, did you play for the Baltimore who?" said Sylvia.
"Colts," said Mackey.
Mackey is just one of many former NFL football player stars who developed dementia after years of hard knocks. When former Philadelphia Eagle Andre Waters committed suicide at the age of 44, he had the brain of an 85-year-old with Alzheimer's. At 34, former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson already showed early signs of dementia and depression. He believes he suffered more than 50 concussions, and the neurosurgeon who treats him believes he suffered brain damage.
Dr. Robert Cantu from the University of North Carolina studies retired football players.
"Impacts can be tremendous. Their size and their weight can be equivalent to crashing a car into a brick wall, going 40-45 miles an hour," he said.
This season Matt is testing a unique helmet invented by his friend, a fellow Harvard alum, who's now a doctor. Matt says he can feel the difference.
The helmet is one of several designed specifically to decrease the risk of concussions, concussions that could permanently damage the brain.
Researches applaud Matt's willingness to be a human guinea pig, while he is playing and after his death.
"Football is something that I'm passionate about. I think that for some reason I was, at this point in my life, I was meant to do this. I figure that by donating my brain, hopefully I can continue the quest for knowledge and hopefully make the game safer in some way for future players," said Birk.
Dr. Tucker says a big question the NFL is trying to sort out is whether underlying factors, such as genetics or environment, make a player more susceptible to brain disease.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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