GAMEFILM aims to look into former NFL athletes heart health and detect early cardiac risks.
SAN DIEGO — The GAMEFILM Registry is a Heartflow initiative that offers former National Football League athletes heart scans using advanced tools including artificial intelligence. The data collected will be used to help health professionals understand how early detection can stop the disease progression which can then prevent heart attacks.
“Over time, in NFL alumni for example, what we’re seeing is about one in three players actually do die from heart disease, and yet we’re not catching this disease early in these players,” Image One Cardiologist & Director of Preventative Cardiology and Cardiac CT Dr. Milind Parikh stated.
Detecting cardiac risks early is crucial and this initiative aims to do that. The study uses advanced tools to capture a clear view and understanding of the person’s heart health.
“It’s a very advanced scan where we get a 3D model of the heart. We can see all the arteries from the inside, we can see if there’s any plaque buildup, the type of plaque buildup there is before someone has a heart attack, before they have symptoms of chest pain or shortness of breath, ” Dr. Parikh explained.
About 120 former NFL players will be enrolled in the registry including Hoby Brenner, who played for the New Orleans Saints from 1981 to 1993. Brenner found the assessment valuable, stating, “The best part was the results,” he also added, “ it was good to be able to put everything together and see it, you know, rather than just kind of just reading reports and that sort of thing. So, I thought it was very very good,” Brenner said.
This initiative could potentially create a life-saving difference in early-detection. Dr. Parikh emphasized, “I think we can save a lot of lives just, you know, screening players and helping them to prevent heart attacks.”
This initiative represents a significant step forward in preventive cardiac care for retired NFL players, offering a detailed and comprehensive view of heart health. To learn more about this assessment visit globenewswire.com