Researchers have revealed former NFL star Aaron Hernandez had the most severe case of CTE doctors have ever found in a person his age.
Head of Boston University CTE Center Dr. Ann McKee said at a medical conference the disease would have had a significant impact on Hernandez's decision-making, judgment, and cognition, and that the 27-year-old’s brain was in unusually good condition for study, The Washington Post reported.
Hernandez killed himself in prison in Massachusetts in April while serving a life sentence for murder. After his death, Hernandez was diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE, which had never before been seen in the brain of a person younger than 46.
McKee said she could not prove Hernandez’s behavior was a result of the CTE, however.
“In any individual, we can’t take the pathology and explain the behavior,” McKee said, the Boston Herald reported. “But we can say collectively, in our collective experience, that individuals with CTE and CTE of this severity have difficulty with impulse control, decision making, inhibition or impulses or aggression, often emotional volatility and rage behavior.”
Hernandez’s brain showed extreme tissue loss and evidence of “microbleeds” that are often present in cases of head trauma, the Herald reported.
The NFL is spending $100 million to develop better helmets and study concussion prevention. In addition, a $1 billion settlement of thousands of concussion-related lawsuits was recently awarded to former NFL players.
Hernandez's lawyers have sued the NFL and Riddell, which makes helmets, for failing to warn players including Hernandez about football’s dangers.
Twitter users blamed Hernandez’s CTE for his suicide and even wondered if they should watch football because of the impact on players.
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