PenguinsFan,

The important idea for you to consider is this. Your brain has already shown that it is easily susceptible to impacts. This would suggest that future impacts, even non-concussive impacts will negatively effect your brain.

I was told this with emphasis back in 1971 by my neurologist. Even after trying to avoid head impacts by not playing contact sports, I have still suffered head impacts accidentally.

My point is that life will likely cause accidental head impacts. We need to avoid those from sports so that we have as much tolerance for life's little bumps as possible.

Until there is a solution to mitigate the tau protein tangles and beta-amyloid plaques, we need to not put our brains at further risk.

I do not worry about what the future has for me. I have observed my decline over 40 years and see it related to additional impacts, not the gradual deterioration noted in sports. If you can prevent any further impacts, you likely can follow the same pattern of deterioration.

As the saying goes:
A fool does not learn from his own mistakes.
A smart person learns from his own mistakes.
A wise person learns from others mistakes.

You have an opportunity to not only learn from others mistakes but also your own mistakes. So, you can make smart and wise decisions regarding your future.

Even if you experience spontaneous decline in your 40's, 50's or 60's, no one can tell you when it will happen. So, go live your life but protect your brain.