Repeated Blows to the Head Found to Cause Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy In Hockey Player

For the first time Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has been found to exist in the brain of a deceased hockey player.  This condition previously linked to repeated blows to the head in boxers and in football players is now found in hockey players as well.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a neurodegenerative disease known to cause cognitive decline, behavioral abnormalities and ultimately dementia. The condition is linked to repeated head trauma.

The Sports Legacy Institute and Boston University has established a program to examine the brains of deceased athletes to determine the existence of the disorder.

You can read more about this link to hockey players and steps that the NHL is taking to reduce head blows byreading the story in the New York Times: Brain Damage Found in Hockey Player