The sub-concussive impact - BU News Service
The sub-concussive impact - BU News Service The sub-concussive impact - BU News Service Posted: 23 Feb 2017 12:00 AM PST In 2002, Jeff Astle passed away at the age of 59 after suffering years of slowly declining mental health. Astle was a professional English soccer player in the 1960s and 70s. Prior to his death, doctors and family members thought he was suffering from early-onset Alzheimer's disease, but the coroner found a different cause of death – chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Astle's death raised many questions. CTE is most commonly associated with high-contact sports, such as football or boxing, where serious head traumas and concussions occur frequently. How could someone without a history of concussions or major head injuries die from a disease like CTE? Nicknamed "The King," Astle was a prolific player known for his skill at heading the soccer ball. Could years of heading the ball be to blame? Since 2002...