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Vox
29-07-2025
- Health
- Vox
The NYC shooter said his brain was damaged by football. Here's what we know about CTE.
covers health for Vox, guiding readers through the emerging opportunities and challenges in improving our health. He has reported on health policy for more than 10 years, writing for Governing magazine, Talking Points Memo, and STAT before joining Vox in 2017. The scene of the shooting in New York City at an office building that included the NFL's offices. The shooter reportedly blamed CTE brain trauma for his actions. Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images On Monday evening in Midtown Manhattan, a 27-year-old gunman opened fire in an office building that houses NFL offices, killing four people, including a police officer and then himself. In a note left in his wallet, the shooter referenced chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly called by its initials CTE, and criticized the NFL for covering up the traumatic brain effects of playing football. 'Study my brain please,' read the note left by the shooter, who was a former high school football player, according to the New York Times. The Times reported that the note also included references to NFL players who had also committed violent acts and were then diagnosed with CTE after their deaths. The shooter shot himself in the chest rather than in the head, following the example of retired NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau. Seau's suicide in 2012, which reportedly followed his own mood changes, helped bring the link between an NFL career and CTE to the public's attention after his autopsy found evidence of the disease. More than a decade later, like many mental health conditions, CTE remains mysterious. The condition cannot be accurately diagnosed until after death and symptoms, such as trouble thinking clearly, can be hard to identify and easily confused with other neurological problems. We are still learning exactly how many people have CTE and exactly how much trauma is necessary for the disease to develop. Here's what we know and what we don't, as another tragedy puts CTE back in the news. What is CTE? Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease, believed to be caused by repeated head injuries. Though more research on the condition is needed, scientists do not believe that a single head injury, such as a concussion, alone can cause CTE. In a person with CTE, nerve cells in their brain die, compromising mental functions. It was first described as 'punch-drunk syndrome' in boxers in the 1920s, before attracting more attention in the 2000s after autopsies of former football players revealed the extent of their brain trauma. The death of Seau, an eight-time All-Pro linebacker, forced the NFL and the American public to take the toll on players' brains more seriously, starting a debate that continues to this day. CTE is most commonly associated with professional athletes who play contact sports, especially football and hockey, but has also been associated with those serving in the military. Other people, particularly victims of physical abuse, can also be at an elevated risk — the only known risk factor is recurring brain trauma. What are the symptoms of CTE? It seems like a straightforward question, but scientists and public health providers still don't have the full picture. Part of the challenge in recognizing CTE is that its symptoms are vague and can be confused with other forms of dementia, even Alzheimer's disease in older patients. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are not specific behavioral or physical changes that are unique to CTE. But some of the commonly cited symptoms include: Difficulty thinking clearly and memory loss Impulsive and aggressive behavior Sudden onset of depression, emotional instability, or suicidal thoughts Trouble walking and loss of control of bodily movement Experts think that younger patients with CTE are more likely to experience mood changes, while older patients endure more of the memory loss and are unable to think clearly, which can progress to more advanced dementia, according to Mayo. Patients are encouraged to get in touch with a health care professional if they experience any of those symptoms or if they suffer a serious head injury that could lead to brain damage. How do we diagnose CTE? Unfortunately, there's no way to diagnose CTE in a living person. Currently, brain samples must be removed from the person and studied under a microscope — something that is not safe for a living patient. To diagnose CTE with certainty after a person's death, an autopsy collects evidence of damaged brain tissue as well as the build-up of tau proteins that have also been associated with Alzheimer's disease. This is obviously suboptimal: If we are ever to develop better interventions and treatments, we need to be able to diagnose people who are still alive with CTE. Scientists are working on new tests that would look for biomarkers in saliva or blood that could tell scientists that a person has the condition. New imaging technology could also provide a path to earlier CTE diagnosis. But for now, in living people, doctors can still attempt to screen for CTE as well as other similar conditions. If medical professionals suspect CTE, they will diagnose a patient with what is called traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, and provide behavioral or occupational therapy. That's why doctors still urge people who worry they could have CTE to get checked out. There is also no specific treatment for CTE; in general, nerve cells that die in the brain cannot be revived, which means the damage done by CTE cannot be reversed through medicine. Does literally every NFL player have CTE? We don't know — but it may be close. A 2023 study from Boston University's CTE Center found that 345 of the 376 former NFL players whose brains they studied had the condition. Though the authors cautioned against interpreting that finding to mean 90 percent of players have CTE — the brains donated to brain banks may not be representative of all players — the research would seem to suggest that playing a sport that involves violently crashing into other people, even with helmets and padding, leads to a higher chance of having brain damage. Part of the mystery with CTE is it's not clear why some people develop it and other people don't. Repeated head injuries clearly put you at risk — a separate BU study of NHL players concluded that the risk of CTE increased by 34 percent for every season played — but they are not enough on their own. Scientists still have more to learn about what causes some people to develop CTE while other people do not. How common is CTE among the general public? Most of us, of course, do not play professional football or hockey. But that doesn't mean we should ignore CTE's risks. Some jobs, such as serving in the military or working in construction, can lead to frequent head injuries. New studies indicate even younger kids playing recreational sports face some danger of CTE. According to the Mayo Clinic, patients may also face a higher risk if they experience one head trauma and then another in quick succession, before their first injury can heal. One study published in JAMA Neurology in 2023 focused specifically on people who died before the age of 30 and were known to have repeated head injuries. In the study, the most common causes of death were suicide or drug overdose. The researchers found 40 percent of the people studied had at least a mild form of CTE; among those with the condition, 70 percent had played a variety of sports at the amateur level — in youth leagues, high school or college. Clearly, being an NFL lineman or NHL enforcer isn't the only way to develop CTE. Concerns have been raised about the accumulations of the micro-traumas that occur when, for example, heading a ball in soccer. Volleyball players, too, can be concussed during game play, which at least opens up the possibility of CTE risk.
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
NITI Aayog "Officially Recognised" Bengal's Progress In Employment: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that NITI Aayog "officially recognised" that the state performed strongly across key socio-economic indicators, especially in employment. The NITI Aayog's newly released summary report also highlighted the state's "positive standing" in areas such as literacy rate, life expectancy, sex ratio, as well as quality of life, she said. "Pleased to share that NITI Aayog has officially recognised West Bengal's strong performance across key socio-economic indicators-most notably in employment. The state's annual unemployment rate for 2022-23 stood at just 2.2 per cent, which is 30 per cent lower than the national average of 3.2 per cent," Mamata Banerjee said in a post on X. Pleased to share that NITI Aayog has officially recognised West Bengal's strong performance across key socio-economic indicators—most notably in employment. The State's annual unemployment rate for 2022–23 stood at just 2.2%, which is 30% lower than the national average of 3.2%.… — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 14, 2025 The report suggested that the literacy rate of West Bengal is 76.3 per cent, above the national average of 73 per cent (as of 2011), she said. "The education outcomes are lower school dropout rates and higher pass percentages in classes 10 and 12 compared to national averages. The life expectancy in Bengal is 72.3 years (2020), higher than the national average," she said. The sex ratio in West Bengal is 973 female births per 1,000 male births, significantly better than the national average of 889, while the infant mortality rate is 19 per 1,000 live births (2020), and the total fertility rate is 1.6 children per woman (2019-21), both better than national averages, Mamata Banerjee said. "The report notes steady improvement, including higher-than-average household access to drinking water. These achievements reflect West Bengal's continued commitment to inclusive and sustainable development," she said, congratulating all who have contributed to making this happen. Mamata Banerjee, a staunch critic of the NITI Aayog, has been calling for "scrapping" the policy think tank for the central government, claiming that it had little use other than organising annual meetings. In May this year, Mamata Banerjee skipped the 10th Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Climate
- USA Today
Even a frog jumps out of the water before it boils
This septuagenarian has had it with the extreme hot weather and the lack of action to keep it from getting hotter. It looks like the Gulf of America, formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico, has to boil before President Trump and the Republican Congress, as well as Gov. DeSantis and the Florida legislature act. Thank goodness, for local governments, like the City of Tallahassee taking action to address the climate crisis, but they can't do it alone. It is hot. It is too hot. Tens of millions of Americans in major cities are dealing with life-threatening heat. As I write this the temperature in Tallahassee is 94 degrees and it feels like 103 degrees. The forecast for the remainder of June suggests that temperatures will continue to be hot. I grew up in Florida in the 1950s and 60s without air conditioning and most nights were comfortable for sleeping. This is no longer possible. When it was too hot during the day, we swam in the Gulf to cool off. This is no longer possible. The Gulf summer water temperatures are unpleasantly warm and increasingly too hot. As kids we played outdoors all day. This is no longer possible. Now on a hot day, you can't even walk your dog on the pavement for fear of burning its paws. Older folks don't do well in the heat. We are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses because our bodies don't thermoregulate well, and any underlying health conditions, which of course we have as we age, can affect our ability to cope with the heat. A walk to the mailbox at noon in the summer can make you feel ill. Yard work in the summer is out of the question, except maybe in the dark, as are most outdoor recreational activities. Between 2010 and 2020, there were 215 deaths attributed to heat exposure in Florida. We also had the most heat-related illnesses in the U.S. between 2018 and 2022, with over 26,000 emergency room visits and 5,000 hospitalizations according to Governing. The only thing that does well in the heat is a hurricane. It is a good guess that some tourists avoid Florida outdoor attractions during the summer months because of the heat. Thirty-seven years ago when we took our daughter to 'the most magical place on earth', it was uncomfortable and hot while waiting in long lines. Now, no amount of money could entice me to take our grandkids there during much of the year due to the heat. The Florida legislature must think that the heat isn't a problem for outdoor workers because it passed a law that prohibits local governments from enacting measures such as water breaks, shade and heat safety training to protect outdoor workers, and there is no state law. Come on folks, climate change is real and causes the heat. The heat is deadly serious and getting worse year by year. Even frogs contrary to the 'frog in the boiling water fable' jump out of the water when uncomfortable, long before it boils. Our situation isn't going to get better without dramatically and quickly cutting our carbon emissions and this requires leadership. It requires you to demand immediate action from our elected officials. Don't think that someone else is going to fix this or that the heat problem will diminish on its own. Our current leaders are not only not addressing this problem, but they are also making it worse by promoting the use of fossil fuels and knee-capping renewable energy actions. And just for the record by the time the Gulf boils it will be too late. Pam McVety is a retired environmental scientist and climate justice advocate.
Indian Express
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mamata to visit Delhi next Monday, may meet PM Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit New Delhi on June 9 and may meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She is likely to return on June 11. Sources at Nabanna, the state secretariat, said that the CM's Office has sought an appointment from the PMO for a meeting on June 10. 'The chief minister wants to raise the issue of the Centre's pending funds and dues to the West Bengal government, which has now ballooned to over Rs 2 lakh 27 thousand crore,' an official said. The TMC government in the state has been raising the issue of pending Central funds for schemes like MGNREGA (rural job guarantee scheme) and PM Awas Yojana (housing scheme for the poor), and has even knocked the doors of the Supreme Court. The BJP government at the Centre has justified the blocking of the funds, citing alleged corruption in the implementation of the schemes in the state. Last week, Banerjee had skipped the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in Delhi that was chaired by the PM. Sources close to Mamata said she decided not to attend the previous meeting because the NDA-led states were allotted more than 15 minutes to speak, while she was given only five minutes. During her visit, Banerjee will also inaugurate her party's new office in Delhi. Meanwhile, Banerjee on Thursday visited SSKM Hospital in Kolkata for a follow-up of her leg injury that she had received while campaigning for the party in Nandigram during the 2021 Assembly elections.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Anand Mahindra on India becoming 4th largest economy: 'For us to keep Rising, India needs…'
Anand Mahindra about indian economy Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra recently took to social media to acknowledge India's achievement of becoming world's 4th largest economy in the world. Recently, India surpassed Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy, a significant milestone that has drawn widespread celebration and reflection from business leaders across the nation. Mahindra posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) sharing his perspective on India's economic journey. "When I was in business school, the idea of India overtaking Japan in GDP felt like a distant, almost audacious dream. Today, that milestone is no longer theoretical — we've become the world's fourth largest economy," he wrote. Here's what Anand Mahindra said about India achieving a milestone in economic growth Mahindra emphasised that this achievement is "no small feat," acknowledging Japan's long-standing status as an "economic colossus with legendary productivity and resilience." He attributed India's progress to "the ambition and ingenuity of millions of Indians — across sectors, generations, and geographies." Read Anand Mahindra's post here 'When I was in business school, the idea of India overtaking Japan in GDP felt like a distant, almost audacious dream. Today, that milestone is no longer theoretical — we've become the world's fourth largest economy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mercado Libre CFD: gana hasta 2.700$ a la semana trabajando desde casa TradeLG Undo It's no small achievement. Japan has long been an economic colossus, with legendary productivity and resilience. That we've caught up is a testament to the ambition and ingenuity of millions of Indians — across sectors, generations, and geographies. But as we celebrate, we must stay dissatisfied. Because India's next leap must be in per capita GDP, not just overtaking Germany… For us to keep Rising, India needs sustained economic reforms — in governance, infrastructure, manufacturing, education, and capital access.' The NITI Aayog CEO, BVR Subrahmanyam, also confirmed India's new position, citing data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that projects India's nominal GDP to reach $4.187 trillion in 2025. India overtakes Japan to become the world's fourth largest economy, says NITI Aayog CEO India has officially surpassed Japan to become the fourth largest economy in the world, according to NITI Aayog CEO B V R Subrahmanyam. Speaking at a press briefing following the 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday, Subrahmanyam highlighted the favourable geopolitical and economic conditions for India. "We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a $4 trillion economy as I speak," Subrahmanyam said, as quoted PTI. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
