As someone who has had issues with concussions over the years, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a big interest in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Earnhardt recently took to Twitter to applaud medical professionals after findings from a recent study of CTE had been made public.
Makes me happy to consistently see new ideas like this being developed and new information being studied. So many helpless individuals may someday find relief and understanding. https://t.co/Y7jmSQupPn
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 18, 2018
The study by individuals at Boston University shows that 20 percent of brains studied came from people without a history of concussions. This goes to show that not all hard hits to head result in concussions, but show there is still damage done from these shots to the head, according to nesn.com.
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Odds are these new findings will force organizations such as NASCAR and the NFL to reevaluate how they conduct concussion protocol.
Issues with concussions and CTE are some that have been at the forefront of the sporting world over recent years and most sport's organizations have made vast changes to adapt to new findings.
"We know now there is no question that some of these kids, some of these adults, who are playing through hits are actually in really bad shape," Lee E. Goldstein, professor at BU's School of Medicine and College of Engineering, and co-author of the study said in an interview with USA TODAY.
Concussions and the symptoms and struggles that go along with them are part of the reason why Earnhardt retired from racing full-time. He was forced to end his 2016 season early due to concussion related issues and also had suffered concussions in 2002 and 2012.