Former Patriots Star Aaron Hernandez Found Not Guilty Of 2012 Double Murder
Photo by Nancy Lane / The Boston Herald via AP, Pool
Photo by Nancy Lane / The Boston Herald via AP, Pool
Aaron Hernandez had brain damage seen commonly in people twice his age
In September, it was revealed that football star turned murderer Aaron Hernandez was found to have a severe case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, better known as CTE. Now we're getting details about how severe.
READ: Researchers At Boston University Found Signs Of CTE In Aaron Hernandez’s Brain
On Thursday, Boston University CTE Center director Dr. Ann McKee held a conference about Hernandez' brain. During it, she revealed that Hernandez, who played tight end for the New England Patriots for three seasons, had the most severe case of CTE ever seen in a 27-year-old. So severe, in fact, that Hernandez' memory and impulse control were already affected.
McKee said:
“These are very unusual findings to see in an individual of this age...We’ve never seen this in our 468 brains, except in individuals some 20 years older.”
There are four stages of CTE and Hernandez was diagnosed with Stage 3.
The question that begs to be answered: how much was his murderous streak because of the brain damage that he's suffered? McKee said that she could not “connect the dots” between CTE and his violent streak.
READ: NFL Star Turned Murderer Aaron Hernandez Kills Himself in Prison
Hernandez hanged himself back in May, literally days after he was acquitted in a double homicide case where he was charged with killing two people over a spilled drink. CTE is a disease that surgeons can only diagnose after a person dies.
Source: Washington Post
