In a post-mortem examination of NFL enforcer Derek Boogard’s brain doctors have discovered advanced brain damage that would have likely led to early on-set dementia had he not died from a drug and alcohol overdose at the age of 28.
Speaking about the extensive nature of the enforcer’s brain damage one doctor told the New York Times :
“To see this amount? That’s a ‘wow’ moment.”
The doctor then pointted at Boogard’s brain tissue and announced:
“This is all going bad.”
The study of Boogard came after he “lost his personality” while playing with the Minnesota Wild. Boogard was later diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, depression, and substance abuse, the latter of which took his life.
Better known as CTE—or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the syndrome is relatively common among professional athletes, having been recently diagnosed in two former NHL players and more than two dozen NFL athletes.
Even as more evidence continues to surface that NHL fights and hard hits are injuring their players NHL officials deny the claims and have done very little to ensure players remain safe and healthy well into retirement.
As one former player tells the NYT:
“They are trading money for brain cells.”
Do you think the seriousness of CTE should be further examined and regulated for professional sports to ensure more tragic results are avoided whenever possible?
