New Scan Can Test UFC Fighters for Brain Damage Before It’s Too Late

Head trauma is one of the hottest, and most important, topics in sports today. The condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE, also known as dementia pugilistica, also known as “being punch-drunk”) has become synonymous with the dangers of contact sports and figuring out ways to prevent it, treat it and track it are a top priority for leagues, teams and organizations.

According to the New York Daily News, scientists have made a major breakthrough in diagnosing CTE in a living person. The scan, which can identify abnormal protein buildups in the brain that are linked to CTE, is not yet FDA approved, but this new technology could allow scientists to track the progression of CTE in athletes, and can hopefully lead to new ways of identifying, treating and preventing the condition.

MMA is a relatively young sport and, luckily, hasn’t seen any tragedies like those of footballers Junior Seau and Terry Long. Unfortunately, it is most likely only a matter of time before something similar occurs. Despite Dana White’s claims, MMA is as bad as, if not worse than, any other contact sport and, as the years go on, CTE will almost certainly take away from fighters’ ability to enjoy life post-retirement. Fans of wrestling, boxing, football and other sports have seen a major uptick in the number of early retirements as a result of this phenomenon.

Hopefully the advancements that are taking place right now can benefit the men and women competing today. Even more importantly, hopefully scientists can find some way to reverse or mitigate the damage done to fighters, boxers and other athletes that have already sustained potentially life-altering trauma.

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