Hard Knock Life: Negotiating concussion and dementia in sport
Award Number
212694/Z/18/ZAward Type
Research Fellowships in Humanities and Social ScienceStatus / Stage
CompletedDates
3 September 2018 -3 March 2022
Duration (calculated)
03 years 06 monthsFunder(s)
Wellcome TrustFunding Amount
£187,053.00Funder/Grant study page
Wellcome TrustContracted Centre
University of LeedsContracted Centre Webpage
Principal Investigator
Dr Gregory HollinPI Contact
g.hollin@sheffield.ac.ukWHO Catergories
Methodologies and approaches for risk reduction researchDisease Type
Dementia (Unspecified)CPEC Review Info
| Reference ID | 298 |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Reside Team |
| Published | 12/06/2023 |
Data
| Award Number | 212694/Z/18/Z |
|---|---|
| Status / Stage | Completed |
| Start Date | 20180903 |
| End Date | 20220303 |
| Duration (calculated) | 03 years 06 months |
| Funder/Grant study page | Wellcome Trust |
| Contracted Centre | University of Leeds |
| Contracted Centre Webpage | |
| Funding Amount | £187,053.00 |
Abstract
This project examines ‘Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy’ (CTE), a form of dementia which arises from concussive and sub-concussive blows to the head. The majority of cases of CTE result from head impacts suffered during sporting activity. Given the large number of sports associated with a risk of CTE, there are increasing concerns about a ‘silent epidemic’ of dementias which may affect both amateur and professional athletes. These concerns have led to diverse calls for technological innovation, rule change, and legislation to ward against the disease.
Drawing upon elite interviews and ethnography conducted with three sporting communities (American football; professional wrestling; age group rugby) this project will ask: How is CTE rendered intelligible within diverse sporting contexts? How do practitioners understand themselves, their brains, and their conduct in the context of the risk of CTE? Finally, how is knowledge of the brain and dementia entangled with classed, raced, and gendered sporting activities? This ambitious study will be amongst the first in Medical Sociology and Science and Technology Studies to consider CTE and will yield novel empirical and theoretical findings relating to the social shaping of this crucial, emerging diagnosis and its place within contemporary society.
Aims
This project involves fieldwork in three sporting contexts – American football, professional wrestling and age grade rugby. I will consider how people who play these sports understand themselves, their brains and their conduct given the possibility of brain injury and how knowledge of the brain, dementia, class, race, and gender shapes their approach.
Findings from the project will contribute to our understanding of CTE as an emerging diagnosis and how it affects athletes and sporting practice.