Contact sports are dangerous. But just how dangerous? Evidence regarding the dangers of repeated concussions has emerged over the last several decades that make one take pause as an athlete, a coach, a parent and a fan. CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a disease associated with repeated concussions, which is characterized by Alzheimer's-like changes in the brain. It can lead to severe mental health disorders include anxiety and depression, and there are cases of professional athletes who have committed suicide, thought to be attributable to the condition. Dr. Charles Tator, a neurosurgeon who has devoted much of his career to the study of CTE, joins the podcast to discuss the science of concussions, the current evidence regarding CTE, and the morality of participating in high contact sports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.