Dr. Julie Stamm: The Brain on Youth Sports

Dr. Julie Stamm grew up loving sports—from the three she lettered in throughout high school to her beloved Wisconsin Badgers football. This passion led her to a career in athletic training, where she eventually witnessed a high school football player suffer a traumatic concussion that affected all aspects of his life.

Wanting to understand more about the brain and how to keep it safe, Stamm went on to become a researcher at the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center and the Psychiatry Neuroimaging Laboratory at Harvard Medical School. Now, she's an expert on brain development and how contact sports can impact the brains of young athletes.

In her recently published book The Brain on Youth Sports: The Science, the Myth, and the Future, Stamm explores the benefits of sports for youth and what we need to know about protecting young athletes' brains. In this episode, she shares not only her research and recommendations, but also the personal experiences with sports that shaped her life and education.

Dr. Julie Stamm (@JulieStammPhD)

You can find Dr. Stamm's book The Brain On Youth Sports: The Science, The Myths, And The Future on her website or wherever you get your books. 

Check out the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings to see unbiased reports on helmets and other safety equipment for sports. 

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