Head trauma suffered by former NFL players was linked to erectile dysfunction, according to a new study published in JAMA Neurology.
“Former players with ED may be relieved to know that concussions sustained during their NFL careers may be contributing to a condition that is both common and treatable,” said study lead author Rachel Grashow, a researcher at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in a Harvard Medical School article published on August 26, 2019. The research was part of the ongoing Football Players Health Study at Harvard.(hsph.harvard.edu)
Former NFL players who have experienced head injuries — namely concussions — may be more likely to also experience low testosterone and erectile dysfunction (ED), a new Harvard study found. “Next, the former players were asked whether a clinician had recommended medication for either low testosterone or ED, and whether they were currently taking such medications.”
By the end, researchers found those who reported the most concussion symptoms were two-and-a-half times more likely to say they were either recommended to take, or are currently taking, medication for low testosterone compared to those who reported the fewest symptoms. Similarly, those who reported the most concussion symptoms were roughly two times more likely to say the same about ED medication.
“Notably, even former players with relatively few concussion symptoms had an elevated risk for low testosterone, a finding that suggests there may be no safe threshold for head trauma,” the researchers added.
Injury to the pituitary gland — a small organ at the base of the brain that’s responsible for hormone production — could affect testosterone levels and ED, researchers said of a possible explanation.(msn.com)