Bob Probert knew the fierce blows he has received and distributed more than 16 seasons in the NHL enforcer was at his expense, as he grew older. That's why he wanted his brain to be analyzed once he is dead.
Although heart failure finally ended his life in July last year at age 45, Probert also lived with a brain damaged.
Researchers at Boston University said Thursday that Probert had degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The disease was detected by analysis of brain tissue donated by Probert.
It is the second player's hockey program at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy have been diagnosed with the disease after death. Reggie Fleming, executor of the 1960s who played before helmets were mandatory, also took ETC.
CSTE is a collaboration between Boston University Medical School and the Sports Legacy Institute is trying to solve what he calls the "crisis of concussion in sport. The group has been at the forefront of research on brain damage in sports, and has received a donation of $ 1 million from the NFL, which has lobbied for better treatment of bruises.
Family of former Bears safety Dave Duerson decided to donate brains for research after he committed suicide last month in 50 years.
As one of the most feared players in NHL penalty Probert had 3,300 minutes, fifth league career list. It 'was the toughest and most prolific fighter of his time. Probert, who has struggled to defeat the alcohol problems of his time, played in the NHL Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in 1985-1994 and 1995-2002.
"We're just beginning to appreciate the consequences of brain injuries in the sport," said Chris Nowinski, Sports Legacy Institute, co-founder and CEO. "Early indications are that the historic decision to discourage contact to the head was a big mistake, and hope that the changes remain aggressive efforts to protect athletes, especially among young people."
The first results were reported by The New York Times and the Globe and Mail of Toronto on Wednesday night.
"Bob told me he wanted to donate his brain to Boston University after learning about research 60 Minutes," his widow, Dani, said in a statement released by the Institute. "His only motivation was to make the sport safer for our children. Bob was a great husband and father, and we miss him every day. "
Several of the biggest stars of the NHL, including Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh (notes), he missed time this season due to the effects of a concussion. Crosby has not played since he absorbed a couple of hits in consecutive games in early January.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said during the All-Star break that concussions are in place this season, but quickly took note of the increase appears to be due to inadvertent or accidental situations, rather than the head contact another player.
Although the NHL has introduced a new rule makes blind side hits to the head illegal lateral, and general managers of the league will see later this month for an additional contact to the head should be prohibited, the fighting has long been an important part of pro gaming.
There was no sign that the NHL is concerned to modify or delete that part of the popular sport.
"The results are interesting and certainly something I will add a much wider body of knowledge" of the NHL, Bill Daly, deputy commissioner for the Associated Press in an e-mail. "But we will not answer or make changes based on the outcomes associated with a player, especially when it is impossible to identify or isolate one of the many variables that can be taken into account in the conclusions, and when there is no real control group "to compare their results. "
The detailed results of brain tissue Probert will not be published before they are submitted to a medical journal. His family has requested that the diagnosis is made public so that awareness could be raised about the dangers of head injuries in sports and encourage more efforts to make the sport safer for the brain, says SLI.
"Diagnosis of brain Probert CTE is not necessarily a hockey accusation because it was a head injury during the fighting outside of hockey and sports like heck of a great car," said Nowinski. "Reggie Fleming, the only NHL player with a diagnosis of CTE, was also the enforcer, so we need further studies before this research can truly say that the current debate and important."
Fleming died in 2009 at the age of 73 with dementia, while 30 years of deterioration in cognitive and behavioral difficulties.
Daniel Probert said her husband showed mental decline of about 40, had new challenges and increasingly short-term memory, attention and short-term nature. These are all symptoms match those shown by other athletes ETC.
During the last year of life Probert, Probert Daniel said her husband told her he thought there were three or four "significant concussion." But when it comes to "his bell," the institute said it was a concussion, by definition, Probert told his wife that their total is spent "more than a dozen."
"In my heart, I do not think that the fight against what Bob is," said Daniel Probert the New York Times. "It was hockey, all inspections and visits and things like that."
Nowinski said last month more than 300 athletes, including 100 current and former NFL players are CSTE registry donation of the brain. There are 65 cases under investigation. CSTE "brain bank" currently has 68 people.
Dr. Ann McKee, co-leader of the RTA, said that the bank is the largest brains in the world, analyzed the brains of 40 former athletes and found that 30 showed evidence of CTE. It includes 13 of the 14 former NFL players, college players and football school, hockey players, wrestlers and boxers pro.
CTE, originally called "dementia boxing," because it was thought that only affect the boxers, is a progressive disease of the brain thought to result of repeated trauma to the brain, including concussions, or blow subconcussive.
It is believed that other undetermined factors such as genetic predisposition makes some people at greater risk of developing the disease.
Keith Primeau, a former hockey All-Star who was forced to retire in 2006 because of injuries during his career of 15 NHL seasons, is among those who have decided to donate their brains.
Primeau and Probert was a teammate Red Wings in four seasons.
"Hockey is taking positive steps to protect players from concussions and brain injuries," he said. "I hope that the results of my friend, Bob Probert, will accelerate this process at all levels of the game."
Although heart failure finally ended his life in July last year at age 45, Probert also lived with a brain damaged.
Researchers at Boston University said Thursday that Probert had degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The disease was detected by analysis of brain tissue donated by Probert.
It is the second player's hockey program at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy have been diagnosed with the disease after death. Reggie Fleming, executor of the 1960s who played before helmets were mandatory, also took ETC.
CSTE is a collaboration between Boston University Medical School and the Sports Legacy Institute is trying to solve what he calls the "crisis of concussion in sport. The group has been at the forefront of research on brain damage in sports, and has received a donation of $ 1 million from the NFL, which has lobbied for better treatment of bruises.
Family of former Bears safety Dave Duerson decided to donate brains for research after he committed suicide last month in 50 years.
As one of the most feared players in NHL penalty Probert had 3,300 minutes, fifth league career list. It 'was the toughest and most prolific fighter of his time. Probert, who has struggled to defeat the alcohol problems of his time, played in the NHL Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in 1985-1994 and 1995-2002.
"We're just beginning to appreciate the consequences of brain injuries in the sport," said Chris Nowinski, Sports Legacy Institute, co-founder and CEO. "Early indications are that the historic decision to discourage contact to the head was a big mistake, and hope that the changes remain aggressive efforts to protect athletes, especially among young people."
The first results were reported by The New York Times and the Globe and Mail of Toronto on Wednesday night.
"Bob told me he wanted to donate his brain to Boston University after learning about research 60 Minutes," his widow, Dani, said in a statement released by the Institute. "His only motivation was to make the sport safer for our children. Bob was a great husband and father, and we miss him every day. "
Several of the biggest stars of the NHL, including Sidney Crosby of Pittsburgh (notes), he missed time this season due to the effects of a concussion. Crosby has not played since he absorbed a couple of hits in consecutive games in early January.
Commissioner Gary Bettman said during the All-Star break that concussions are in place this season, but quickly took note of the increase appears to be due to inadvertent or accidental situations, rather than the head contact another player.
Although the NHL has introduced a new rule makes blind side hits to the head illegal lateral, and general managers of the league will see later this month for an additional contact to the head should be prohibited, the fighting has long been an important part of pro gaming.
There was no sign that the NHL is concerned to modify or delete that part of the popular sport.
"The results are interesting and certainly something I will add a much wider body of knowledge" of the NHL, Bill Daly, deputy commissioner for the Associated Press in an e-mail. "But we will not answer or make changes based on the outcomes associated with a player, especially when it is impossible to identify or isolate one of the many variables that can be taken into account in the conclusions, and when there is no real control group "to compare their results. "
The detailed results of brain tissue Probert will not be published before they are submitted to a medical journal. His family has requested that the diagnosis is made public so that awareness could be raised about the dangers of head injuries in sports and encourage more efforts to make the sport safer for the brain, says SLI.
"Diagnosis of brain Probert CTE is not necessarily a hockey accusation because it was a head injury during the fighting outside of hockey and sports like heck of a great car," said Nowinski. "Reggie Fleming, the only NHL player with a diagnosis of CTE, was also the enforcer, so we need further studies before this research can truly say that the current debate and important."
Fleming died in 2009 at the age of 73 with dementia, while 30 years of deterioration in cognitive and behavioral difficulties.
Daniel Probert said her husband showed mental decline of about 40, had new challenges and increasingly short-term memory, attention and short-term nature. These are all symptoms match those shown by other athletes ETC.
During the last year of life Probert, Probert Daniel said her husband told her he thought there were three or four "significant concussion." But when it comes to "his bell," the institute said it was a concussion, by definition, Probert told his wife that their total is spent "more than a dozen."
"In my heart, I do not think that the fight against what Bob is," said Daniel Probert the New York Times. "It was hockey, all inspections and visits and things like that."
Nowinski said last month more than 300 athletes, including 100 current and former NFL players are CSTE registry donation of the brain. There are 65 cases under investigation. CSTE "brain bank" currently has 68 people.
Dr. Ann McKee, co-leader of the RTA, said that the bank is the largest brains in the world, analyzed the brains of 40 former athletes and found that 30 showed evidence of CTE. It includes 13 of the 14 former NFL players, college players and football school, hockey players, wrestlers and boxers pro.
CTE, originally called "dementia boxing," because it was thought that only affect the boxers, is a progressive disease of the brain thought to result of repeated trauma to the brain, including concussions, or blow subconcussive.
It is believed that other undetermined factors such as genetic predisposition makes some people at greater risk of developing the disease.
Keith Primeau, a former hockey All-Star who was forced to retire in 2006 because of injuries during his career of 15 NHL seasons, is among those who have decided to donate their brains.
Primeau and Probert was a teammate Red Wings in four seasons.
"Hockey is taking positive steps to protect players from concussions and brain injuries," he said. "I hope that the results of my friend, Bob Probert, will accelerate this process at all levels of the game."
