Former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck volunteers his brain for CTE research in hopes of finding a diagnosis in the living
For now, CTE can only be diagnosed via a posthumous examination of the brain.
Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is donating his brain to help researchers find a way to diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in living individuals. CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma from playing football, but there currently is no way to diagnose it while someone is alive. Hasselbeck volunteered to undergo a series of tests at Boston University to assess the impact of his playing career on his brain health.
The tests included a blood sample, an MRI, a PET scan, and cognitive testing. Hasselbeck played 17 seasons in the NFL from 1999 to 2015, making three Pro Bowls and taking numerous hits during his career. He is participating in the research in hopes of improving outcomes for other players who have suffered similar impacts from the sport.
Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed via a postmortem examination of the brain, and it has been linked to various cognitive disorders.
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