The use of helmets and mouth-guards has been put forward as a possible preventative measure; though neither has significant research to support its use, both have been shown to reduce direct head trauma. Although there is no significant research to support the use of helmets to reduce the risk of concussions, there is evidence to support that helmet use reduces impact forces. Mouth guards have been shown to decrease dental injuries, but again have not shown significant evidence to reduce concussions. A growing area of practice is improved recognition and treatment for concussions and other head trauma, since repeated impacts are thought to increase the likelihood of<unk>  development, removal from sport during these<unk>  incidences is essential. Proper return-to-play protocol after possible brain injuries is also important in decreasing the significance of future impacts. Efforts are being made to change the rules of contact sports to reduce the frequency and severity of blows to the head. Examples of these rule changes are the evolution of tackling technique rules in American football, such as the banning of helmet-first tackles, and the addition of rules to protect defenseless players. Likewise, another growing area of debate is better implementation of rules already in place to protect athletes. Because of the concern that boxing may cause<unk> , there is a movement among medical professionals to ban the sport. Medical professionals have called for such a ban as early as the 1950s.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Parkinson's disease
Wernicke encephalopathy
Alzheimer's disease
Powassan encephalitis
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
Toxic encephalopathy
Viral encephalitis