http://t.foxsports.msn.com/mlb/report-ryan-freel-first-major-leaguer-diagnosed-with-cte
He reportedly suffered as many as 10 concussions during his career; had Stage II CTE at the time of his death. He committed suicide in December 2012.
Last December, former major leaguer Ryan Freel committed suicide. Nearly a year later, he has become the first major leaguer diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to numerous athletes — particularly football players — who committed suicide.
CTE has become an increasingly hot-button topic as sports continues to deal with the long-term effects of head injuries and concussions.
According to the Florida Times-Union in Freel's native Jacksonville, Freel's family learned of the findings on Freel's brain earlier this month from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy and Sports Legacy Institute. Freel's family donated his brain tissue after his death upon learning, according to reports, that Freel suffered nine or 10 concussions in his career. Freel played parts of eight seasons with the Blue Jays, Reds, Orioles, Cubs and Royals from 2001-09.
According to the Times-Union:
"The report from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy and Sports Legacy Institute was presented to Freel's mother and stepfather, Norma and Clark Vargas, and to representatives from Major League Baseball on Dec. 11 at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista. There, evidence confirmed that Freel was suffering from Stage II CTE when he committed suicide on Dec. 22, 2012. He was 36 years old.
According to the Oxford Journals of Medicine, Stage II on the CTE scale includes "depression, explosivity and short-term memory loss." Stage IV is the final and most severe stage, where "dementia, word-finding difficulty and aggression were characteristic."
The Times-Union said that the findings help Freel's family rest a little easier in knowing that Freel "was battling something beyond his control provided some closure." Freel left behind a wife and three daughters.
Cont'd...
He reportedly suffered as many as 10 concussions during his career; had Stage II CTE at the time of his death. He committed suicide in December 2012.
Last December, former major leaguer Ryan Freel committed suicide. Nearly a year later, he has become the first major leaguer diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to numerous athletes — particularly football players — who committed suicide.
CTE has become an increasingly hot-button topic as sports continues to deal with the long-term effects of head injuries and concussions.
According to the Florida Times-Union in Freel's native Jacksonville, Freel's family learned of the findings on Freel's brain earlier this month from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy and Sports Legacy Institute. Freel's family donated his brain tissue after his death upon learning, according to reports, that Freel suffered nine or 10 concussions in his career. Freel played parts of eight seasons with the Blue Jays, Reds, Orioles, Cubs and Royals from 2001-09.
According to the Times-Union:
"The report from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy and Sports Legacy Institute was presented to Freel's mother and stepfather, Norma and Clark Vargas, and to representatives from Major League Baseball on Dec. 11 at the winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista. There, evidence confirmed that Freel was suffering from Stage II CTE when he committed suicide on Dec. 22, 2012. He was 36 years old.
According to the Oxford Journals of Medicine, Stage II on the CTE scale includes "depression, explosivity and short-term memory loss." Stage IV is the final and most severe stage, where "dementia, word-finding difficulty and aggression were characteristic."
The Times-Union said that the findings help Freel's family rest a little easier in knowing that Freel "was battling something beyond his control provided some closure." Freel left behind a wife and three daughters.
Cont'd...