A New Concussion Treatment Could have a Positive Impact on Youth Sports, Brett Favre and a Florida D
HATTIESBURG, MISS. – The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates nearly 300,000 high school athletes suffer a concussion each year in the United States, and another study from 2011 shows a 16 percent increase in the number of concussions each school year from 1997 through 2008
“I think going back to my college and high school days, no one even kept a record,” NFL Hall of Famer quarterback Brett Favre said. “Concussions were not an issue.”
Favre’s comments shine light on a dark past, as many players and coaches carried the old “tough it out” mentality. “You get a brief ringing in the ear or feel some dizziness, but you were considered a wimp if you were to consider coming out,” Favre stated. “Well, we know now that concussions are a lot more serious.” The dawn of a new day and thanks to research conducted by a Florida neuroscientist, a new treatment called Prevacus could hit the market in the next few years. “To my knowledge, this is the only potential treatment out there,” Favre stated. Dr. Jacob Vanlandingham, founder and president of Prevacus describes the new treatment as a potential game-changer. “Too many times we are seeing our youth have brain swelling, and that could lead to death,” Dr. Vanlandingham said. An unfortunate reality the family of Dylan Thomas faced earlier this year when the high school linebacker from Georgia passed away on Sept. 30. “Dylan had a concussion and he went to the sideline,” Dr. Vanlandingham explained. “They rested him for about 30 minutes. He went back into the game and had a subsequent concussion, that’s what lead to the second impact syndrome.” After already receiving a concussion and taking a second hit to the head, Dylan’s brain began to bleed massively, which ultimately caused Dylan to pass away. “I believe that if we had a drug, something like Prevacus we could have reduced some of the swelling on the sideline, and he would have a much better chance to survive,” Dr. Vanlandingham said. The potential lifesaving tool, Prevacus enters human trail in January of 2019.
