Podcast Summary: "Turns Out Brains Are Important. Who Knew?"
Podcast Information:
- Title: The Dream
- Host/Author: Little Everywhere
- Episode: Turns Out Brains Are Important. Who Knew?
- Release Date: February 3, 2025
- Guest: Dr. Chris Nowinski, Behavioral Neuroscientist and Former Professional Wrestler
1. Introduction to Chris Nowinski
In this episode of The Dream, hosts Dan and Jane Marie welcome Dr. Chris Nowinski, a unique blend of a former professional wrestler and a dedicated behavioral neuroscientist. Chris's journey from the football fields and wrestling rings to the halls of Harvard Medical School sets the stage for a profound discussion on concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
2. From Football to Wrestling: Chris's Athletic Career
Background in Football: Chris Nowinski began his athletic career in football, detailing his rise to become a two-way starter and captain at Harvard University. Despite his prowess on the field, Chris did not consider himself an NFL prospect, stating:
"I never thought I was good enough." [01:53]
After college, a twist of fate steered him away from a potential life in the NFL and towards professional wrestling, thanks to a recommendation from a consulting job mentor.
Transition to Wrestling: Embracing his interest in performance and physicality, Chris pursued a career in pro wrestling. He recounts his experience training under the legendary Killer Kowalski and eventually participating in a reality show with WWF:
"I was runner up. And being Chris Harvard was very interesting." [12:28]
This period was marked by creative freedom and the development of his wrestling persona, Chris Harvard, which paradoxically both boosted his career and contributed to his later challenges.
3. The Onset of Concussions and CTE Awareness
Injury and Realization: Chris's wrestling career was abruptly halted by a severe concussion resulting from a kick to the head during a match. He describes the moment:
"I blacked out. Like, I couldn't remember the rest of the match." [18:13]
Unaware of the long-term implications, Chris continued to wrestle, accumulating multiple concussions without understanding their severity.
Post-Injury Struggles: Following his retirement, Chris grappled with cognitive impairments and a growing realization of the damage done to his brain. This led him to seek answers, culminating in the writing of his book, Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis.
4. Uncovering CTE: Writing the Book and Igniting Change
Authoring the Book: In Head Games, Chris exposed the NFL's handling of concussions, drawing parallels to the "big Tobacco" scandal. This bold move faced significant challenges, including publishing hurdles and securing liability insurance:
"I wrote a chapter calling them big Tobacco and exposing how these studies were so stupidly designed." [22:41]
Investigating CTE: The book laid the groundwork for Chris's deeper involvement in CTE research. He recounts persuading a medical examiner to study the brain of Andre Waters, an NFL player who had committed suicide:
"Andre had CTE, and he was the third of three NFL players to have CTE." [26:03]
This discovery was pivotal, leading to widespread media coverage and raising national awareness about the dangers of repeated head trauma in sports.
5. The Devastating Impact of CTE on Athletes
Personal Stories: Chris shares heartbreaking stories of athletes like Junior Seau and Chris Benoit, whose lives were tragically cut short, likely due to CTE:
"Junior Seau… had stage three CTE… he was just fighting addiction, mental health, couldn't hold jobs, families." [35:55]
Behavioral Consequences: CTE's effects extend beyond cognitive decline, often manifesting as severe neurobehavioral problems, including aggression, depression, and impaired executive functioning.
"When you combine family history of psychiatric issues with CTE... you see really strange behaviors." [38:56]
6. Scientific Understanding and Diagnosis of CTE
Research Developments: Chris delves into the scientific aspects of CTE, explaining how it is identified post-mortem by examining tau protein deposits in the brain:
"What you will see is a pattern of brain cell death that is specific to the disease." [28:14]
Despite advancements, diagnosing CTE in living individuals remains a significant challenge. Chris emphasizes the need for improved diagnostic tools to enable early detection and intervention.
Prevalence and Risk Factors: Research indicates that CTE correlates strongly with the number and severity of head impacts rather than the number of diagnosed concussions. Studies show:
"For football players, your odds of developing CT go up 30% per year." [32:30]
These statistics underscore the pervasive risk faced by athletes in contact sports.
7. Cultural Challenges and Future Goals
Changing the Sports Culture: Chris advocates for a cultural shift in how contact sports are approached, particularly at the youth level. He highlights the increasing number of young athletes exposed to repetitive head trauma and calls for stricter regulations:
"We need to get to a point where we can diagnose CT in life... we're facing a wave and an industry that doesn't want to acknowledge it." [43:54]
Future Aspirations: His vision includes establishing comprehensive diagnostic protocols and fostering clinical research to find treatments for CTE. Additionally, Chris aims to promote safer sports practices to protect future generations of athletes.
8. Recognizing and Responding to Concussions
Identifying Concussions: Chris provides practical insights on recognizing concussions during sports events. He introduces the concept of the "spontaneous head shake" (SHAKE) as a new diagnostic sign:
"If you see someone get hit in the head and they shake their head back and forth violently, that is usually a concussion." [51:36]
Call to Action: He urges coaches, athletes, and spectators to be vigilant and proactive in identifying and addressing concussions to prevent long-term brain damage.
9. Conclusion
The episode concludes with Dan and Chris reflecting on the importance of awareness and proactive measures in combating the CTE crisis. Chris expresses gratitude for the platform provided by The Dream to further his mission:
"Thank you for giving this a little bit more visibility because it is a hard thing to convince people on." [53:16]
The discussion underscores the urgent need for societal and institutional changes to safeguard athletes' brain health, highlighting the profound interplay between sports culture and neurological well-being.
Notable Quotes:
- Chris Nowinski [01:53]: "I never thought I was good enough."
- Chris Nowinski [12:28]: "I was runner up. And being Chris Harvard was very interesting."
- Chris Nowinski [18:13]: "I blacked out. Like, I couldn't remember the rest of the match."
- Chris Nowinski [22:41]: "I wrote a chapter calling them big Tobacco and exposing how these studies were so stupidly designed."
- Chris Nowinski [26:03]: "Andre had CTE, and he was the third of three NFL players to have CTE."
- Chris Nowinski [35:55]: "Junior Seau… had stage three CTE… he was just fighting addiction, mental health, couldn't hold jobs, families."
- Chris Nowinski [38:56]: "When you combine family history of psychiatric issues with CTE... you see really strange behaviors."
- Chris Nowinski [28:14]: "What you will see is a pattern of brain cell death that is specific to the disease."
- Chris Nowinski [32:30]: "For football players, your odds of developing CT go up 30% per year."
- Chris Nowinski [43:54]: "We need to get to a point where we can diagnose CT in life... we're facing a wave and an industry that doesn't want to acknowledge it."
- Chris Nowinski [51:36]: "If you see someone get hit in the head and they shake their head back and forth violently, that is usually a concussion."
- Chris Nowinski [53:16]: "Thank you for giving this a little bit more visibility because it is a hard thing to convince people on."
Key Takeaways:
- CTE Awareness: Dr. Chris Nowinski's journey underscores the critical need for awareness and research into CTE, particularly within contact sports.
- Cultural Shift Needed: There is an urgent need to change sports culture to prioritize athletes' neurological health over competitive and financial gains.
- Early Diagnosis and Treatment: Advances in diagnosing CTE in living individuals could revolutionize prevention and treatment strategies.
- Protecting Youth Athletes: Implementing stricter regulations and safety protocols in youth sports is essential to mitigate long-term brain injuries.
This episode of The Dream serves as a poignant exploration of the hidden costs of contact sports, advocating for systemic changes to protect athletes and advance neurological research.