Is chronic brain damage in boxing a hazard of the past?

Abstract

Of fourteen boxers with a mean age of 31 years who had been Finnish, Scandinavian, or European champions, only one showed deficits in neurological status and he and one other had had episodes of inappropriate behaviour which were attributed to boxing. However, computed tomography revealed pathological findings attributable to brain injury in four of six professional and one of eight amateur boxers. Two of the professionals and four of the amateurs had electroencephalographic abnormalities which may have been caused by brain injury. Twelve of the boxers had psychological test results which suggested brain injury, although only two professionals had definite deviation from normal. The results indicate that modern medical control of boxing cannot prevent chronic brain injuries but may create a dangerous illusion of safety. The only way to prevent brain injuries is to disqualify blows to the head.