Doctors at Englewood, Hackensack hospitals see need for proposal to track brain injuries nationally

njmg file photo

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9, outlines a legislative proposal called the SAFE PLAY Act on Sept. 8 at Dwight Morrow High School in Englewood. Pascrell and Rep. Thomas J. Rooney, R-Fla., proposed legislation last month directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to establish a national system to track traumatic brain injuries, like a concussion.

North Jersey health experts believe a proposed bill could help with further understanding traumatic brain injuries like concussions.

The legislation, called the National Traumatic Brain Injury Research and Treatment Improvement Act of 2015, was introduced by Reps. Bill Pascrell, D-9, and Thomas J. Rooney, R-Fla., on March 10, the annual day of Brain Injury Awareness.

If approved, it would require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to "establish a national system to track the occurrence of traumatic brain injuries and collect data to assist research, prevention and treatment development efforts."

Top neurologists from Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and HackensackUMC called the bill "important" in efforts to understanding these injuries, which are classified as minor or major.

The proposal came just days before 24-year-old Chris Borland, a rising star for the San Francisco 49ers as a linebacker, announced his retirement after one season, citing concerns from repetitive head trauma.

Borland, who lead the 49ers in tackles this past season, had two concussions before joining the NFL.

He joined fellow teammate Patrick Willis, 30, and others this past season who retired early because of concerns about long-term effects of head trauma.

Concern over sports-related head injuries continue to grow in the sports world, including at the youth level, and health experts are taking notice.

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Doctors at Englewood, Hackensack hospitals see need for proposal to track brain injuries nationally