Cantu, Dr. Robert — Concussions: The Impact of Sports On Kids’ Brains
Concussion injuries to our children is the topic of this edition of Radio Curious as we visit with Dr. Robert Cantu, the author of “Concussions and Our Kids”. Dr. Cantu’s medical career centers on neurosurgery and sports medicine and is dedicated to addressing the concussion crisis through research, treatment, education and prevention.
Dr. Cantu writes that the genetic inheritance of a child begins to control his or her athletic skills at about age 14. This is similar to the evolutionary influence that compels young teenagers to set a mark and establish status and belonging within their band or tribe, often through athletic prowess. In the evolutionary history of our species this was necessary for basic survival. Now in the 21st century, many of our children do the same thing, many times with strong family support, yet at the same time, subjecting themselves to radical injury. Dr. Cantu and I spoke by phone from his office near Boston, Massachusetts, on September 24, 2012. I began by asking him to comment on his analysis.
The book Dr. Robert Cantu recommends, which was also made into a movie is “Head Games,” by Chris Nowinski.
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