Advances in sports medicine have created a concussion protocol, which seeks to help educate trainers, coaches and sports medicine professionals on the symptoms and evaluation of blows to the head. This has led to better evaluation and management of conditions. But not every team or league uses the protocols, nor is an educated coach or trainer present for every situation.

Devastating Effects for Pro Athletes

The results of long-term neglect can be terrible. Recently, an autopsy on football great Frank Gifford revealed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressively degenerative brain disease sustained from his years in professional football. Gifford was one of the lucky ones, maintaining high-level communications skills and able to avoid (at least publicly) some of the pitfalls suffered by other football players, including dementia, memory loss, aggression, confusion and depression, as well as suicidal tendencies.

Ken "The Snake" Stabler donated his brain and spine to the Boston University School of Medicine after he died of cancer in July 2015 to help researchers better understand CTE. Researchers found classic signs of the disease, including atrophy in the temporal lobe and a tear in the curtain that separates the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Stabler reportedly began having problems with impulse control in his 50s, then suffered from headaches and memory problems in his 60s until he died at age 69.

San Diego Chargers great Junior Seau and Bears safety David Duerson are among the high-profile players whose suicides have been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and they are certainly not alone.