In recent weeks Pro Football Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett and Joe DeLamielleure, and former NFL All-Pro Leonard Marshall were the first living patients diagnosed with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy.) CTE is caused by blows to the head and linked to depression and dementia. CTE is indicated by a buildup of tau, an abnormal protein that strangles brain cells in areas that control memory, emotions and other functions. The condition causes early onset dementia and was first noticed in boxers in the 1920s who suffered memory loss and problems with concentration.
Dorsett underwent a PET scan imaging test to see if they had the disease. During the study researchers found 5 living players that have this disease and contacted them as soon as they had found out.
CTE has formerly only been confirmed on autopsies of several NFL athletes, including Dave Duerson, Mike Webster, Tom McHale, Ray Easterling, and recently Junior Seau, who took his own life in May 2012.
Dorsett, in an appearance Wednesday afternoon on ESPN’s “Dan LeBatard Is Highly Questionable” show, acknowledged he had been tested at UCLA and received results: “I’m not going to say too much more about it … I’m trying to be proactive rather than reactive.”
Dorsett has remained positive throughout the situation, but at times struggles with daily activities. He has stated that he gets lost when he drives his two youngest daughters, ages 15 and 10, to their soccer and volleyball games. “I’ve got to take them to places that I’ve been going to for many, many, many years and then I don’t know how to get there.”
One of the many side effects of CTE includes emotional outbursts and it has frighten his family.”It’s painful, man, for my daughters to say they’re scared of me.” After a long pause, he tearfully reiterated, “It’s painful.”Dorsett said doctors have told him he is clinically depressed.”I’ve thought about crazy stuff, sort of like, ‘Why do I need to continue going through this?’” he said. “I’m too smart of a person, I like to think, to take my life, but it’s crossed my mind.”
CTE does not have a cure that we know of, but Dorsett is seeking answers; “I want to know if this is something that has come about because of playing football,”My quality of living has changed drastically and it deteriorates every day.It’s enlightening to know what I have, what I’m dealing with,” Dorsett said. “Now it’s time to find out, how can we can come back from it. I actually was told (by researchers) that it can be reversed. I was like, ‘What?’ They said, ‘Yeah, it can be reversed, slowed down, stopped.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, OK, so we need to get on out of here and get on that program immediately.”
“I knew something was going on. It takes me back to the fact that we (as players) were treated (after head injuries) and still put back out there in harm’s way, when from my understanding management knew what they were doing to us.“They were still subjecting us to that kind of physical abuse without the proper treatment. It really hurts. My quality of life (long pause) deteriorates a little bit just about every day.
His advice to the other diagnosed ex-players: “Use the power of positive thinking, don’t let the disease overwhelm, this is not a diagnosis of death.”
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