Question

level⁴ of brain functioning, even if there were no documented concussions⁵ or reported symptoms. if that child continues to play over many seasons, these cellular injuries accumulate to cause irreversible brain damage, which we know now by the name chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or c.t.e., a disease that i first diagnosed in 2002.
5 depending on the severity⁶ of the condition, the child now has a risk of manifesting⁷ symptoms of c.t.e. like major depression, memory loss, suicidal thought and actions, loss of intelligence as well as dementia⁸ later in life. c.t.e. has also been linked to drug and alcohol abuse as the child enters his 20s, 30s and 40s.
6 the risk of permanent impairment is heightened by the fact that the brain, unlike most other organs, does not have the capacity to cure itself following all types of injuries. in more than 30 years of looking at normal brain cells in the microscope, i have yet to see a neuron⁹ that naturally creates a new neuron to regenerate itself.
7 we are born with a certain number of neurons. we can only lose them; we cannot create new neurons to replenish old or dying ones.
8 in 2011, the two leading and governing professional pediatrics associations¹⁰ in the united states and canada, the american academy of pediatrics and the canadian pediatric society, published a position paper recommending that children should no longer be allowed to engage in high-impact contact sports, exemplified by boxing, and willfully damage their developing brains.
⁴ the microscopic level of cells
⁵ temporary unconsciousness caused by a blow to the head
⁶ severity (noun) seriousness
⁷ manifest (verb) to display or show
⁸ a brain disorder that includes memory loss, personality changes, and weakened reasoning
⁹ nerve cells of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system
¹⁰ groups organized around doctors who study children and their diseases
analyzing the author’s point of view: don’t let kids play football
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1. to ride or drive a long distance to and from work or school
2. inadequate (adjective) not good enough

opponent (noun) a person who takes the other side in a fight, game, or argument
paragraph 7

1. describing the permanent impacts of cte on brain functions shows the author thinks...

Explanation:

1. First, from the symptoms of CTE listed (major depression, memory loss, etc.), we can see the severity of its impact on brain function.
2. Then, the fact that the brain lacks the ability to regenerate neurons (we are born with a fixed number of neurons and can only lose them) explains why the impacts are permanent.
3. Finally, the recommendation from pediatric associations against children playing high - impact contact sports further supports the idea that the author considers the impacts of CTE on children's brain function to be very serious and long - lasting.

Answer:

The author thinks that CTE has extremely serious and long - lasting negative impacts on children's brain function. The description of permanent impacts like major depression, memory loss, suicidal thoughts, loss of intelligence, and dementia, along with the fact that the brain can't regenerate neurons to repair itself, and the subsequent recommendation against children engaging in high - impact contact sports, all show that the author believes CTE can cause irreversible and very harmful effects on children's developing brains.