“The Golden Jet,” two-time NHL MVP suffered from stage 2 disease

(Boston) – The widow of Hockey Hall of Famer and two-time NHL MVP Bobby Hull is releasing the results of his post-mortem brain tissue analysis today through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to raise awareness for the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts in hockey and encourage support for research. Hull’s family donated his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center after he passed away in 2023 at age 84. Researchers there diagnosed Hull with stage 2 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

“Seeing the pain and heartache suffered by his lifetime friend Stan Mikita’s family, Bobby felt strongly no other family should have to endure CTE,” said Deborah Hull, Bobby’s wife of 39 years. “He insisted on donating his brain, feeling as though it was his duty to help advance research on this agonizing disease.”

For the last nearly 10 years of his life, Hull struggled with many of the cognitive symptoms of CTE such as short-term memory loss and impaired judgement. Deborah Hull says Bobby knew his historic career came at a price.

“We are grateful to Bobby Hull and all of the NHL players and families who are helping us learn how to prevent, diagnose, and treat CTE,” said Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston University CTE Center and UNITE Brain Bank. “We encourage retired players and their families to reach out for help and care if they are concerned about CTE, as we are learning how to effectively treat symptoms, especially in mid-life.”

In December 2024 the Boston University CTE Center published the largest ever study of deceased male hockey players, finding that 18 of 19 NHL players studied had CTE, including Hull, Ralph Backstrom, Stan Mikita, Bob Probert, and Derek Boogaard. The BU study also found that the odds of developing CTE increased by 34% for each year of hockey played.

Hull played professionally for 23 years, 15 seasons in the NHL, most notably for the Chicago Blackhawks where he won a Stanley Cup, two Hart Memorial Trophies, three Art Ross Trophies and led the NHL in goals scored seven times.

Despite the research, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman still refuses to acknowledge the link between playing in the NHL and developing CTE.

“NHL families deserve to know that CTE can be a consequence of the head impacts they receive while playing the game,” said CLF CEO Dr. Chris Nowinski. “The NHL still shamelessly refuses to acknowledge this scientific truth, so we hope this message reaches current players so that they, at a minimum, can play with informed consent.”

CTE has also been diagnosed in amateur hockey players, but researchers suspect it is not diagnosed as frequently because amateurs tend to have shorter careers and therefore fewer head impacts.

Help is available for former hockey players and their families struggling with suspected CTE symptoms. The CLF HelpLine provides free, personalized support to patients and families through doctor recommendations, peer support, and resources. Anyone who needs assistance can reach out at CLFHelpline.org.

3x Pro Bowler Dobler’s family sharing diagnosis to inspire research participation

(Boston) – The family of three-time NFL Pro Bowl guard Conrad Dobler is announcing his chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosis today through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to raise awareness for the disease and inspire participation in CTE research. Boston University CTE Center researchers diagnosed Dobler with stage 3 (of 4) CTE after his death in 2023 at age 72.

“My dad loved the game of football, but his love for the game took a toll on his body, his mind, and his relationships,” said Erin Lewin, Dobler’s daughter who was his primary caregiver for the final few years of his life. “His CTE diagnosis provides a sense of closure in terms of justifying his neurological and behavioral issues that took a toll not only on him but on all of us who loved and cared for him. We are relieved to have a definitive answer and proud to honor his wish to go public with the findings to raise awareness for the risks of repetitive head trauma and for the research being done at Boston University.”

Dobler was a three-time Pro Bowl selection in the 1970s during his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals. He went on to play for the Saints and Bills before retiring after 10 seasons in the league at age 31. During his NFL career, Dobler became well known for utilizing what many called unsportsmanlike tactics. A 1977 cover story in Sports Illustrated even crowned him “Pro Football’s Dirtiest Player.” To many former teammates though, Dobler was a loyal, lifelong friend.

“Conrad started as my teammate and ultimately became my brother,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame lineman Dan Dierdorf, Dobler’s teammate in St. Louis. “It broke my heart to watch him struggle and slowly slip away. He was a force of nature… until he wasn’t.”

Dobler had a subtype of CTE discovered in 2024 by the Boston University CTE Center called cortical sparing CTE. Cortical sparing CTE has less severe neuron death in the cortex and tends to have slightly less severe cognitive symptoms, but earlier onset of behavioral symptoms.

Dobler pledged to donate his brain in 2010 when he was 59 and participated in clinical research at the Boston University CTE Center. His family says he was very passionate about CTE research, and he made it clear he wanted to play any role he could in making the game he loved so much safer.

“The support we have received from Conrad Dobler and the hundreds of former NFL players and their families who have participated in our research has put us on the cusp of diagnosing CTE in living people,” said Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston University CTE Center and UNITE Brain Bank. “With continued support from the NFL player community, we will eventually be able to prevent future families from suffering the indignities and pain of CTE.”

Right now, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed through neuropathological brain tissue analysis after death. The Concussion Legacy Foundation is currently actively recruiting for six clinical studies that will get researchers closer to diagnosing CTE in life using biomarkers and new types of brain imaging, understanding why some people get CTE and others do not, and looking at other changes in the brain caused by repetitive head impacts.

The Dobler family encourages all former football players interested in participating in research to sign up for the CLF Research Registry at CLFResearch.org.

CLF, Baughan to be honored by CBS Sports’ Ross Tucker on Thursday through NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign

(Boston) – The family of 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist and nine-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker Maxie Baughan is announcing his CTE diagnosis today through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to encourage support for CTE research. Baughan was one of the NFL’s most feared linebackers in the 1960s for Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Rams. He helped the Eagles win an NFL title as a rookie and went on to coach for five NFL teams. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, diagnosed Baughan with stage 3 (of 4) CTE after his death in 2023 at age 85.

“Maxie dedicated so much of his life to the game of football,” said Dianne Baughan, Maxie’s wife of 62 years. “He would be proud to know his contribution to research would teach us how to make the game he loved safer and protect future athletes from suffering. Our family is touched by Ross Tucker’s decision to honor him.”

Baughan is one of three finalists to advance to the final stage of voting for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class in the Seniors category. Ross Tucker, a former NFL offensive lineman and current CBS Sports analyst, is honoring Baughan and former Chicago Bears and Yale captain Mike Pyle on his custom shoes through the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats campaign. This marks the fourth consecutive year Tucker has selected CLF as his charitable organization. Tucker plans to wear the shoes during coverage of the Lions vs. Packers game on Thursday. Baughan was the defensive coordinator for the Lions from 1980 to 1982.

“I am proud to honor Maxie Baughan and Mike Pyle, two great players who helped build the NFL, but more importantly, are teaching us about CTE through brain donation,” said Tucker, who played seven seasons in the NFL and was an All-Ivy selection at Princeton. “It means a lot to me to recognize two Ivy League leaders and show my appreciation for all my fellow Ivy League athletes who have stepped up to support the Concussion Legacy Foundation’s End CTE campaign to help advance CTE prevention and research.”

Baughan made nine Pro Bowls with multiple All-Pro selections during his 13-year career. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame for his career at Georgia Tech and is also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame. He played a total of 25 years of tackle football, beginning at age 8. Baughan is among the brain donors who have taught the world that the more years one plays tackle football, the greater their odds of developing CTE.

Mike Pyle, captain of the last unbeaten Yale team and 1963 NFL champion Chicago Bears, was diagnosed with stage 4 CTE after his death in 2015.

Tucker will join dozens of other analysts and announcers in wearing custom tennis shoes and hundreds of NFL players in wearing custom cleats representing the charitable cause of their choice during Weeks 13 & 14. In previous years, Tucker has honored Junior Seau, Demaryius Thomas, Chris Eitzmann, and Tom McHale. The Baughan family gave Tucker permission to honor Maxie back in September.

Current and former football players can join Tucker in the fight to End CTE by signing up for the CLF Research Registry. Those who are interested can learn more about pledging their brain or participating in clinical research studies at CLFResearch.org.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa displayed a Spontaneous Headshake After a Kinematic Event (SHAAKE) after controversial undiagnosed concussion

(Boston, MA) — Concussion researchers have recognized a new concussion sign that could identify up to 33% of undiagnosed concussions. After a hit to the head, individuals sometimes quickly shake their head back and forth. Although it has been depicted in movies, television, and even cartoons for decades, this motion has never been studied, named, and does not appear on any medical or sports organization’s list of potential concussion signs. A new study, led by Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) CEO and co-founder Chris Nowinski, PhD, says it should.

The study, published today in Diagnostics, reveals that when athletes exhibit this movement, which Nowinski and senior author Dan Daneshvar, MD, PhD, Chief of Brain Injury Rehabilitation in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Spaulding Rehabilitation and Harvard Medical School, have named a Spontaneous Headshake After a Kinematic Event or SHAAKE, athletes report they had a concussion 72% of the time. Among football players, the relationship was even stronger, with 92% of SHAAKEs associated with a concussion. A SHAAKE is usually initiated within seconds or minutes of an impact, involves lateral rotation side to side at a rate of 2 to 8 movements per second, typically lasts less than two seconds, and does not occur for another reason such as a form of communication.

Nowinski recognized SHAAKE as a concussion sign after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s controversial undiagnosed concussion during a game on September 25, 2022. After Tagovailoa’s head hit the ground, he rapidly shook his head side to side two separate times, before stumbling and collapsing. At the time, doctors attributed the collapse to a prior back injury, so he was not diagnosed with a concussion. Had Tagovailoa been diagnosed with a concussion, he likely would not have been playing in a game the following Thursday, where he lost consciousness after experiencing a suspected second concussion in four days and was removed from the field in a stretcher. Had SHAAKE been considered a sign of concussion, it would have provided doctors with additional evidence that his imbalance after the initial injury on September 25 was caused by ataxia due to concussion.

“Sports and medical organizations should immediately add SHAAKE to their lists of potential concussion signs,” Nowinski said. “Coaches, medical professionals, and concussion spotters should be trained to recognize when a SHAAKE happens and remove athletes for further assessment. It’s an easy change, with no downside, that could prevent catastrophic outcomes and save careers.”

For the study, 347 current and former athletes between the ages of 18 and 29 were surveyed. They were shown video examples of SHAAKEs and asked about their experiences with them. 69% reported exhibiting a SHAAKE, and 93% of those reported a SHAAKE in association with concussion at least once. Athletes reported exhibiting SHAAKEs a median of five times in their lives.

“In the athletes we studied, about three out of every four SHAAKEs happened because of a concussion,” said Daneshvar, who also serves as Co-Chair of Sports Concussion at Mass General Brigham. “Based on our data, SHAAKE is a reliable signal that a concussion may have occurred, like an athlete clutching their head after contact, being slow to get up, or losing their balance. Just like after these other concussion signs, if athletes exhibit a SHAAKE, they should be removed from play and evaluated for a potential concussion.”

The three most common reasons athletes reported for exhibiting a SHAAKE were “disorientation or confusion” (25%), “a feeling like you needed to jumpstart your brain” (23%), and “changes to your perception of space or perception of your body in space” (14%). Other reasons athletes reported for exhibiting a SHAAKE associated with a concussion included headache, dizziness, inability to keep their train of thought, and changes to vision, hearing, or balance. Reasons athletes exhibited a SHAAKE that are not associated with concussion include neck pain, chills, pain that was not a headache, and an emotional reaction to the preceding event.

“Studies consistently show that an unacceptably high number of their concussions are not voluntarily reported by athletes, either because they don’t realize they have a concussion or because, in the heat of the moment, they don’t want to be removed from the game,” said Robert Cantu, MD, CLF medical director and study co-author. “It is critical we take every potential concussion sign seriously to ensure the health and wellbeing of athletes.”

The main limitation of the study is the potential for recall bias due to survey participants self-reporting prior concussions. Most respondents were from the United States and Canada, and it is unclear if SHAAKE varies by country or culture. Future prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.

These findings appear online in the journal Diagnostics.

Authorship: In addition to Nowinski, Cantu, and Daneshvar, study authors include Samantha C. Bureau (CLF), Hye Chang Rhim (Spaulding); and Ross D. Zafonte, DO (University of Missouri).

Conflict of Interest: Nowinski reported nonfinancial support (travel reimbursement) from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), NFL, World Rugby, WWE, and AEW (All Elite Wrestling); he has served as an expert witness in cases related to concussion and CTE and is compensated for speaking appearances and serving on the Players Advocacy Committee for the NFL Concussion Settlement. He also serves as an advisor and options holder for Oxeia Biopharmaceuticals, PreCon Health, and StataDx outside the submitted work. Daneshvar serves as an expert witness in legal cases involving brain injury and concussion and serves as an advisor and options holder for StataDx outside the submitted work. He receives funding from the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, which is funded by the NFLPA and evaluates patients for the MGH Brain and Body TRUST Center, sponsored in part by the NFLPA.

Additional disclosures can be found in the paper.

Funding: This research received no external funding.

(Boston) – The widow and daughters of NHL veteran Greg Johnson are releasing the results of his post-mortem brain tissue analysis today through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to raise awareness for the long-term effects of concussions and repetitive head impacts in hockey. Johnson, who played 14 seasons in the NHL, died by suicide five years ago this week at age 48. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, diagnosed Johnson with CTE, but was unable to definitively stage it due to the manner of death.

“This diagnosis took my breath away,” said Kristin Johnson, Greg Johnson’s wife of 22 years. “Greg’s death shattered our world, and we never once thought this disease was something he struggled with. He experienced very few symptoms that we knew of, but he spoke of his concussions often. I remember the exact moment he told me his heart condition forcing him to retire was a blessing because he couldn’t take another hit. He knew his hockey career had a profound impact on his brain.”

Johnson played hockey for 31 years, beginning at age 5. Never utilized as an enforcer, Johnson was known for his work ethic as a two-way forward. He was the second-ever team captain for the Nashville Predators, where he played from 1998-2006, and is remembered by his teammates as a soft-spoken, quiet leader. Johnson also spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings. He won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 1994 Olympics.

According to the National Institutes of Health, CTE is caused in part by repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Leading scientists consider the presence of CTE to be confirmation of exposure to repeated TBIs, which most frequently occur in the context of repetitive head impacts received while playing contact sports. However, in early-stage cases, it is unclear if symptoms are related to CTE, TBIs, or other factors.

In addition, suicide is complex and multifactorial, and a post-mortem CTE diagnosis should not be considered as the cause of a suicide. However, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with suicide, independent of CTE. A 2019 study found that a diagnosed concussion doubles the risk of suicide. The relationship between TBI, CTE, and suicide has not been formally studied.

“I had no idea what CTE even stood for when my dad took his life,” said Carson Johnson, Greg Johnson’s eldest daughter. “Now understanding that the hits he endured throughout his hockey career damaged his brain, I want all athletes to understand the risks and I want the NHL to start acknowledging it exists and do more to protect its players so other daughters don’t have to lose their fathers.”

According to public records, 17 of 18 NHL players studied in the U.S. and Canada have now been diagnosed with CTE, including fellow Team Canada members Ralph Backstrom, Henri Richard, Stan Mikita, Bob Probert, Steve Montador, and Bob Murdoch. CTE has also been diagnosed in amateur players.

“I’m so proud to have my dad’s legacy attached to this research and know the kindness and generosity he showed others during his life will continue to make a difference for years to come,” said Piper Johnson, Greg Johnson’s youngest daughter. “He truly was the best dad ever, and to lose him to suicide was beyond anything we could imagine. It was awful, but we want to talk about it to help others struggling know they are not alone, and there is help available.”

Help is available for former hockey players and their families struggling with suspected CTE symptoms. The CLF HelpLine provides free, personalized support to patients and families through doctor recommendations, peer support, and resources. Anyone who needs assistance can reach out at CLFHelpline.org.

Kristin, Carson, and Piper Johnson will not be taking any interview requests, and do not plan to speak further on the diagnosis beyond what is in this release. They ask for privacy at this time.

(Boston) – The family of Ray “Ray Ray” Lewis III is announcing the results of his brain tissue analysis through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) today to educate parents on the risks of youth tackle football and to encourage support for advancing CTE research. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, diagnosed Lewis with stage 2 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Lewis died from an accidental overdose in June 2023 at the age of 28.

“Little did I know when I put my son in tackle football at age 5, I ran the risk of having to bury him 22 years later,” said Tatyana McCall, Lewis’ mother. “I would have done something different now knowing the risks. We need to wait until our babies are at least 14 to allow them to play tackle football. It also breaks my heart that you have to die to get a diagnosis for this disease. Our family is committed to doing whatever we can to help raise funds to further the research so scientists can learn how to definitively diagnose CTE during life.”

“We are proud to honor Ray Ray’s legacy by teaching our youth about football safety while sharing and supporting research on CTE,” said Ray Lewis Jr., Ray Lewis III’s father and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker.

A June 2023 Boston University study found football players’ odds of developing CTE were closely related to the number and strength of head impacts they received over their career. A 2019 study from the same group found the odds of developing CTE may increase by as much as 30 percent with each year of tackle football played.

“Stories like Ray Ray Lewis’ remind us why we need to accelerate efforts to prevent and treat CTE,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, CLF co-founder and CEO. “We thank his family for their dedication to research, education, and making football safer. Through brain donation, grieving football families have shown us how to make the sport safer. Now it is up to us all to act.”

In the years before his death, Lewis’ family says he experienced issues with his memory, often becoming extremely forgetful, and exhibited erratic, sporadic behavior and impulsivity. McCall suspected he was battling CTE. Lewis played football collegiately at the University of Miami, Coastal Carolina, and Virginia Union before a professional indoor football career.

CTE can only be diagnosed after death. There is no known cure, but treatments are available for many symptoms of the disease. The CLF HelpLine is available to provide personalized support for any current or former athletes concerned about repetitive head trauma and looking for help. Patients and caregivers can submit a request here.

(Boston) – The family of two-time Stanley Cup champion and 1989-90 NHL coach of the year Bob Murdoch is announcing today his stage 3 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosis. Boston University CTE Center researchers made the diagnosis after Murdoch passed away in August 2023 at age 76. Bev Murdoch is releasing the findings of her husband’s brain study through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to raise awareness for the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts in hockey.

“This diagnosis was not a surprise,” said Bev Murdoch, Bob’s wife of 37 years. “He knew, we all knew, intuitively what caused his suffering. So much more needs to be done in professional hockey to acknowledge and prevent CTE. If not, there will be more people like Bob who will lose many years of their lives. It’s not only the athletes who suffer. This disease causes such a significant impact on the family, especially the spouses who become caregivers. For seven years, I watched the love of my life disappear. I want the NHL to stop fighting and stop head hits, period, and start saving lives.”

In 2015 Murdoch, whom teammates called “Mud,” began to experience mild cognitive impairment. Four years later, his doctors told him they believed he had Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinsonism. Murdoch suspected CTE was contributing to his symptoms and made the decision to donate his brain to Boston University after his death. The post-mortem study showed that along with severe CTE, Murdoch did have Lewy body disease and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers are studying whether CTE, which would have developed first while Murdoch was playing, may increase the risk of developing additional brain diseases later in life.

“We thank Bev and Bob Murdoch for their support of CTE research and advocacy,” said Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston University CTE Center and UNITE Brain Bank. “I’m disappointed that the NHL still refuses to acknowledge a clear causal relationship between repetitive head impacts and CTE. I wish the commissioner could see the damage these brains endure and the pain this disease causes families.”

According to public records, 16 of 17 NHL players studied in the U.S. and Canada have now been diagnosed with CTE, including Murdoch’s former Montreal teammates Ralph Backstrom and Henri Richard, as well as Stan Mikita, Bob Probert, and Steve Montador. CTE has also been diagnosed in amateur players.

Hockey Hall of Famer Ken Dryden was Murdoch’s close friend and teammate in Montreal and on the Canadian national team. The former Federal Cabinet Minister and CLF Canada supporter has long called for the NHL and all levels of hockey to do more to prevent repetitive head impacts.

“Mud wore a helmet; he wasn’t a fighter,” said Dryden. “The NHL likes to pretend that players like Bob played in a different time. How today’s NHL is so much safer. But it’s all about hits to the head. Gary Bettman, at least in the past the NHLPA, much of the hockey media and many of the player agents may have fooled themselves, but the brain isn’t fooled. Years of a life diminished or taken away. It’s all so avoidable in so many cases. It’s all so wrong.”

Murdoch had a 12-season NHL career as a defenseman, playing for the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, and the Atlanta/Calgary Flames from 1970-82. He won the Stanley Cup with the Canadiens in 1971 and 1973. He later transitioned to coaching, including head coach positions with the Chicago Blackhawks and Winnipeg Jets. He received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s coach of the year in 1990 and helped lead Team Canada to a gold medal at the 1994 World Championships. Murdoch was also a member of the San Jose Sharks’ inaugural coaching staff and spent six years coaching in Germany.

Help is available for former hockey players and their families struggling with suspected CTE symptoms. The CLF HelpLine provides free, personalized support to patients and families through doctor recommendations, peer support, and resources. Anyone who needs assistance can reach out at CLFHelpline.org.

Former and current hockey players, contact sport athletes, and servicemembers are encouraged to get involved in clinical research, and pledge to donate their brains at PledgeMyBrain.org.

Note: Asking for privacy, the Card family will have no further comment and will not be speaking with the media or accepting any interview requests at this time.

(Boston) – The family of Robert Card II is releasing the findings of his brain tissue analysis through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) today in an effort to help prevent future tragedies. In October 2023, Card killed 18 people and injured more than a dozen others at multiple shootings in Lewiston, Maine before dying by suicide at age 40. The Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s office requested the post-mortem study of Card’s brain by the Boston University CTE Center, led by Ann McKee, MD.

Dr. McKee found Card had significant evidence of traumatic brain injuries at the time of the shootings.

“Robert Card had evidence of traumatic brain injury. In the white matter, the nerve fibers that allow for communication between different areas of the brain, there was significant degeneration, axonal and myelin loss, inflammation, and small blood vessel injury. There was no evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” said Dr. McKee, director of the BU CTE Center. “These findings align with our previous studies on the effects of blast injury in humans and experimental models. While I cannot say with certainty that these pathological findings underlie Mr. Card’s behavioral changes in the last 10 months of life, based on our previous work, brain injury likely played a role in his symptoms.”

Further studies on Card’s brain are being allowed by the family to continue supporting Dr. McKee’s research.

Card was a U.S. Army Reservist and a longtime instructor at an Army hand grenade training range, where it is believed he was exposed to thousands of low-level blasts.

“We want to begin by saying how deeply sorry and heartbroken we are for all the victims, survivors, and their loved ones, and to everyone in Maine and beyond who was affected and traumatized by this tragedy. We are hurting for you and with you, and it is hard to put into words how badly we wish we could undo what happened. While we cannot go back, we are releasing the findings of Robert’s brain study with the goal of supporting ongoing efforts to learn from this tragedy to ensure it never happens again. We thank the Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s office for requesting the brain analysis. We know it does not fully explain Robert’s actions, nor is it an excuse for the horrific suffering he caused, but we thank Dr. McKee for helping us understand his brain damage and how it may have impacted his mental health and behavior. By releasing these findings, we hope to raise awareness of traumatic brain injury among military service members, and we encourage more research and support for military service members with traumatic brain injuries. Our hearts remain with the victims, survivors, and their families.”

– The Family of Robert Russell Card II

1 in 6 people with high-stage CTE found to have distinct disease pattern that may lower dementia risk but increase behavioral problems

(Boston) – The widow of New Orleans Saints legend Henry Childs is announcing today that Boston University CTE Center researchers diagnosed Childs with a newly identified form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) called cortical-sparing CTE (CSCTE). Childs passed away in 2016 at age 65 after a heart attack. This is the first time Cyndy Childs has been public with her late husband’s diagnosis.

CTE is a neurodegenerative disease defined by abnormal tau protein accumulating in a particular pattern in specific regions of the brain. Studies to date suggest CTE begins in the outermost layer of the frontal lobe, the neocortex, where it then spreads to connected brain regions. Later, in high-stage disease, there is involvement of deeper regions of the brain, like the medial temporal lobe and brainstem.

In a new study from the BU CTE Center published Monday, researchers found one in six individuals with high-stage CTE had surprisingly low levels of tau pathology in their neocortex. CSCTE instead showed a higher concentration of tau pathology in the medial temporal lobe and brainstem regions. The individuals with CSCTE, like Childs, were less likely to have dementia and had less severe cognitive impairment compared to those with typical CTE, but they did tend to have earlier onset of behavioral and movement symptoms.

“Henry was a kind, gregarious man with such a big personality,” said Cyndy Childs. “It was very hard to watch him become more short-tempered, emotional, and socially withdrawn. I know he would have been proud to contribute to research and I’m hopeful by sharing his diagnosis, the science will continue to advance to help others.”

Childs is regarded as one of the best tight ends in Saints history, playing seven of his 11 NFL seasons there, including in 1979, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl. He was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1994.

Researchers believe further studies are needed to confirm the existence of CSCTE and to understand its clinical implications, but they believe this finding could have important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of CTE.

“If CSCTE is confirmed to be a distinct subtype of CTE, it may be necessary to develop new diagnostic tools and treatment approaches that are specifically tailored to this form of the disease,” said corresponding author Thor Stein, MD, PhD, a neuropathologist at VA Boston and Bedford Healthcare Systems and associate professor of pathology & laboratory medicine at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. “This could help us understand why people with CTE can have different symptoms and, ultimately, lead to improved outcomes.”

You can read the full study online in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.

Kansas City area 18-year-old had worst brain trauma seen in someone so young

(Boston) – The parents of a former Missouri high school football player are going public with their son’s stage 2 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) diagnosis. Wyatt Bramwell, of Pleasant Hill, Mo., died by suicide in July 2019 at age 18, just months after graduating from high school. Boston University CTE Center researchers made the diagnosis, the first case of stage 2 (of 4) CTE in a teenager.

“It takes years for CTE to progress from stage 1 to stage 2, so to find stage 2 CTE in an 18-year-old is the clearest evidence yet that we are giving children CTE in sports,” said Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the Boston University CTE Center and UNITE Brain Bank. “I hope this inspires further CTE prevention efforts, including adoption of CTE Prevention Protocols in sports.”

Bramwell hid his symptoms from family members and only started showing noticeable changes in the last two months of his life. In a video he recorded before his death, he confessed to struggling with depression, racing thoughts, paranoia and difficulty thinking straight saying, “my life for the past four years has been a living hell inside of my head.”

However, it is unclear if Bramwell’s symptoms were caused by his stage 2 CTE, his multiple concussions, or had other causes, according to a study of 152 athletes who died before the age of 30 published earlier this year in JAMA Neurology that included Bramwell.

Research is clear that Bramwell’s CTE was caused by playing tackle football from age 8 to age 18, including four years of high school in which he played both wide receiver and cornerback. A June 2023 Boston University study published in Nature Communications found football players’ odds of developing CTE were closely related to estimates of the number and strength of head impacts they received over their career.

Before his death, Bramwell asked his parents to donate his brain for research saying, “I took a lot of hits through football. I took a lot of concussions, and a lot of times I never told anybody about how I was feeling in my head after a hit.”

“We were completely shocked to learn that Wyatt had CTE,” said Christie Bramwell, Wyatt’s mother. “We hope sharing his story serves as a cautionary tale to all football parents and educates them on the risks of playing the sport. If it could happen to our son, it could happen to anyone.”

“By going public with Wyatt’s diagnosis, we hope other families think twice about allowing their young children to play tackle football,” said Bill Bramwell, Wyatt’s father. “Knowing what I know now, I would have encouraged Wyatt to play flag football for much longer.”

“For an 18-year-old to have the same stage of CTE as Junior Seau, who played 20 seasons in the NFL, is disturbing, but not surprising,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO. “Kids are bigger, faster, and stronger than ever, and I don’t understand why we still have nearly 1 million boys playing tackle football before high school knowing some will develop CTE like Wyatt Bramwell. At that age, we should only allow flag football.”

CTE can only be diagnosed after death. There is no known cure, but treatment is available for many symptoms of the disease. The CLF HelpLine is available to provide personalized support for any current or former athletes concerned about repetitive head trauma looking for help. Patients and caregivers can submit a request here.

Wyatt Bramwell’s story is included with several other athletes who died young and were later diagnosed with CTE in a feature report printed in today’s New York Times.