The following report by medical editor Marilyn Brooks first aired Sept. 13, 2005, on Channel 4 Action News at 5:30 p.m.

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Former Steeler Terry Long died from injuries caused from his days as an offensive guard.

The medical explanation was "repeated mild traumatic brain injury" while playing football.

His death raises some troubling questions for anyone who plays the sport.

Granted, the equipment is better since Long played, the rules of football are also different. But that does not mean brain injury or concussions can't happen to the kids and to the pros.

Anything that lands a player on his head causes the brain to smack against the inside of the skull.

"Those who understand the injuries know they [concussions] can be just as deadly as a severe bell ringing," said Dr. Brad Bellote, director of Neuro Trauma at Allegheny General Hospital. "Repeated concussions over time can have lasting effects and they add over each other."

After years of study, the experts now know that and they watch for it -- especially in the pros where there is a tendency for players to push through injuries because of the big money involved.

"We have them fill out batteries of tests and questionnaires before the season, during, and after each concussion. Before they're allowed to go back to play, they have to be back at their baseline," said Bellote.

But no one knew that in the days of Terry Long. He went back to play before his brain was healed.

The coroner gave a long list of medical terms in describing the cause of death, including acute cerebellar and cerebral meningitis and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Those terms mean that the repeated concussions Long suffered 10 years ago could not be erased or reversed.

"They can eventually contribute to dementia, memory loss, problems with concentration along with many other things. They also inhibit the brain's ability to respond to further traumas, be it head injuries or meningitis in the future," said Bellote.

It's important for parents to know that meningitis means inflammation of the meninges -- the covering of the brain and spinal cord. That inflammation is usually caused by a virus or bacterial infection. In Long's case, experts said it's a separate but linked issue.

"In Mr. Long's case, his brain is less able to cope with the insult such as the meningitis because of the repeated concussions in the past," said Bellote.

Parents also need to know that football isn't the only sport that experts worry about. Hockey, soccer, skiing, and equestrian sports are all collision sports that can result in small repeated concussions that can lead up to lasting damage.