Ideas worth spreading

Can I have your brain? The quest for truth on concussions and CTE

1,218,767 views |

Chris Nowinski |

TEDxBeaconStreet

• November 2017

Something strange and deadly is happening inside the brains of top athletes -- a degenerative condition, possibly linked to concussions, that causes dementia, psychosis and far-too-early death. It's called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and it's the medical mystery that Chris Nowinski wants to solve by analyzing brains after death. It's also why, when Nowinski meets a pro athlete, his first question is: "Can I have your brain?" Hear more from this ground-breaking effort to protect athletes' brains -- and yours, too.

Something strange and deadly is happening inside the brains of top athletes -- a degenerative condition, possibly linked to concussions, that causes dementia, psychosis and far-too-early death. It's called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and it's the medical mystery that Chris Nowinski wants to solve by analyzing brains after death. It's also why, when Nowinski meets a pro athlete, his first question is: "Can I have your brain?" Hear more from this ground-breaking effort to protect athletes' brains -- and yours, too.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBeaconStreet, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Pledge to donate your brain at ConcussionFoundation.org/Pledge

Donate to the Concussion Legacy Foundation in honor of an athlete you care about to help scientists learn how to prevent and treat CTE.

About the speaker

Chris Nowinski

Social entrepreneur

See speaker profile

Dr. Chris Nowinski is leading a global conversation on concussions, CTE and the future of sports.

Christopher Nowinski | Thought Leaders, LLC 2014 | Book

Head Games: The Global Concussion Crisis

This is the book that started the concussion revolution. What began as a personal question to understand the damage I had done to my brain has changed how we play sports forever. This book was the first to expose how the NFL has taken a Big Tobacco-like approach to concussion and CTE research, seeking to undermine and discredit life-saving discoveries to protect their business. This book is a must read for any parent, coach, or medical professional, and reveals the changes we must make to keep children safe in sports.

Steve James | 2012 | Watch

Head Games

I was honored to have my book Head Games made into a documentary in 2012 by celebrated director Steve James, director of Hoop Dreams and who was just nominated for an Oscar for Abacus: Small Enough to Jail. The film also stars leaders on the concussion issue including Alan Schwarz, Keith Primeau, Cindy Parlow Cone, Bob Costas, Ann McKee, Bob Stern, Robert Cantu and many more. There's an updated version, Head Games: The Global Concussion Crisis, for international audiences that covers rugby, soccer and Australian Rules football.

FRONTLINE | 2013 | Watch

"League of Denial"

The National Football League, a multibillion-dollar commercial juggernaut, is America's indisputable national pastime. But the NFL is under assault: thousands of former players have claimed the league tried to cover up how football inflicted long-term brain injuries on many players. What did the NFL know, and when did it know it? In a special two-hour investigation, FRONTLINE reveals the hidden story of the NFL and brain injuries.

Robert Cantu with Mark Hyman | Mariner Books, 2013 | Book

Concussions and Our Kids: America's Leading Expert on How to Protect Young Athletes and Keep Sports Safe

Dr. Cantu is an American treasure. He was the physician that treated my post-concussion syndrome and first opened my eyes to the concussion crisis. This book shares his decades of wisdom gathered as a pioneer on concussions prevention, management, and treatment, and provides a game plan for a safer future for sports. If you have a child playing sports, this is a great book.

Malcolm Gladwell | New Yorker, 2009 | Article

"Offensive Play: How Different are Dogfighting and Football?"

Celebrated writer Malcolm Gladwell weighed in early on what the growing CTE research means for the future of football. In his usual engaging, insightful prose, Gladwell asks the provocative question: What are the similarities and differences between men forcing dogs to fight for entertainment and football players choosing to risk their brain health for our entertainment?

Andrew Budson, Ann McKee, Robert Cantu and Robert Stern | Elsevier, 2017 | Book

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Proceedings of the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Center Conference

This book provides the latest information on CTE. Get a thorough, expert overview of the many key facets of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) with this concise, practical resource that features a wealth of information on CTE, ideal for neurologists, neurosurgeons, psychologists and other practitioners who see patients with concussions or a history of brain trauma.

Learn more

About TEDx

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED's mission, "ideas worth spreading." It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.

Find a TEDx event near you

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxBeaconStreet, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

Pledge to donate your brain at ConcussionFoundation.org/Pledge

Donate to the Concussion Legacy Foundation in honor of an athlete you care about to help scientists learn how to prevent and treat CTE.