ESPN reported last week that Junior Seau suffered from a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Seau’s ex-wife, Gina, and his oldest son, Tyler, 23, told ABC News and ESPN in an exclusive interview they were informed last week that Seau’s brain had tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease that can lead to dementia, memory loss and depression.
“I think it’s important for everyone to know that Junior did indeed suffer from CTE,” Gina Seau said. “It’s important that we take steps to help these players. We certainly don’t want to see anything like this happen again to any of our athletes.”
Many have speculated that Junior Seau made sure his brain was kept intact so it could be studied after his suicide. On the heels of this news, former Jets running back Thomas Jones has told ESPN that he will donate his brain to science after his death. An article in the Daily News
today discusses this in more detail.Thomas Jones fears pro football did irreparable damage to his brain, and he wants science to prove it.
The former Jets running back told ESPN that he will donate his brain upon his death to the Sports Legacy Institute to look for evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease that has been linked to NFL players.
Player safety seems to finally be getting the exposure that it deserves. Unfortunately it comes years too late for so many ex-players. Many of whom have united in a lawsuit against the NFL.
“The NFL must open its eyes to the consequences of its actions,” said Kevin Turner, a former running back for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles who has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. “The NFL has the power not only to give former players the care they deserve, but also to ensure that future generations of football players do not suffer the way that many in my generation have.”
Lawyers representing the players cited “dementia, depression, reduced cognitive ability, sleeplessness, early-onset Alzheimer’s, and a debilitating and latent disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy” as some of the specific injuries caused by head trauma in the NFL.
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