NFL Alumni Association teams with Neuralstem Inc. on traumatic brain injury trial

by | Apr 24, 2013 | NFL News, NFL Post Career Health, NFL Random Thoughts

It’s easy this week to get wrapped up in all the hoopla surrounding the NFL draft. But as the league gets ready to welcome a new class of rookies, we all should also remember to keep an eye on the continuing developments surrounding the health issues of former players.

An announcement came out today that I thought was interesting and that I hope helps lead to a better quality of life for at least some former players. The National Football League Alumni Association and Neuralstem Inc. announced they are working together to develop a trial for treating NFL alumni who are suffering from traumatic brain injuries with NSI-189, a neurogenic drug platform.

NSI-189 is apparently a drug being tested as a possible treatment for major depressive disorder and, according to a statement, it appears to work by stimulating neurons in the hippocampus, a region of the brain that atrophies in depression and which also could be implicated in brain injury. (more…)