TESTS SHOW AARON HERNANDEZ HAD
CTE
(CNN)Aaron Hernandez, the former NFL star who took
his life while serving a murder sentence in prison, had chronic traumatic
encephalopathy -- commonly known as CTE -- attorney Jose Baez said Thursday.
Baez
cited study results compiled by the Boston University CTE Center, which
examined Hernandez's brain for the neurodegenerative brain disease.
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Hernandez
played for the New England Patriots from 2010 to 2012 after a standout
collegiate career at the University of Florida.
According
to a statement from BU, Hernandez's brain was examined by Dr. Ann McKee,
director of the CTE Center. The neurodegenerative brain disease has
Alzheimer's-like symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, aggression, rage
and, at times, suicidal behavior. It is believed to result from repeated trauma
to the head, which results in a buildup of the abnormal protein tau that clumps
in the brain.
The
disease is categorized in four degrees, with Stage 4 being the most severe.
According to McKee's analysis, Hernandez was found to have Stage 3 CTE, which
is commonly associated with cognitive and memory loss, as well as behavioral
changes and impaired judgment. Hernandez was found to have early degeneration
of brain cells and large tears in the septum pellucidum, a central membrane of
the brain.
The
CTE Center statement added that he had "severe deposition of tau protein
in the frontal lobes of the brain" as well as a "deposition of tau
protein in nerve cells around small blood vessels, a unique feature of
CTE."
The
initial examination was confirmed by a second neuropathologist at Boston
University.
CTE
can be diagnosed only after death. Researchers are working on ways to detect it
in the living, with the hope of being able to treat it one day.
Hernandez hanged himself in
prison in April. He was 27.
"Aaron
suffered from a severe case of CTE," Baez said. "Not only were the
results positive, but we're told that it was the most severe case they had ever
seen for someone of Aaron's age."
A
representative for Boston University's CTE Center did not confirm to CNN that
it was the most severe case it had seen and said, "We have nothing further
to add."
A
federal lawsuit suing the National Football League and the New England Patriots
was filed Thursday by Shayanna Jenkins Hernandez, Hernandez's fiancee, on
behalf of their daughter, Avielle. The lawsuit seeks $20 million.
"The
NFL had made certain representations to players during this time that Aaron was
playing (2010 to 2012) and those representations turned out to be false,"
Baez said.
The
NFL said it cannot comment about the lawsuit at this time. The Patriots have
not responded to a request for comment.
In
2015, a federal judge approved a class-action lawsuit settlement between the
NFL and thousands of former players who accused the league of hiding the
dangers of concussions and repeated head trauma. The agreement provides up to
$5 million per retired player for serious medical conditions associated with
repeated head trauma.
CTE
has been detected in veterans, as well as players of other contact sports;
however, it has become most associated with football. It has been diagnosed in
San Diego Charger and Hall of Famer Junior Seau, as well as the Philadelphia
Eagles' Kevin Turner and the Oakland Raiders' Ken Stabler.
A
recent analysis by BU found evidence of CTE in 110 of 111 brains of former NFL
players. However, there is a potential bias in this review, as relatives of
these players may have submitted their brains for diagnosis due to clinical
symptoms noticed while the players were living.
SOURCE: CNN