Some devastating news.
Football Hall of Famers Tony Dorsett and Joe DeLamielleure, along with former All-Pro Leonard Marshall have been diagnosed with having shown early signs of the degenerative brain condition CTE–chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The cause of the condition stems from head trauma and is linked to depression and dementia.
ESPN’s Outside the Lines broke the news:
The three former stars underwent brain scans and clinical evaluations over the past three months at UCLA, as did an unidentified ex-player whose test results are not yet available. Last year, UCLA tested five other former players and diagnosed all five as having signs of CTE, marking the first time doctors found signs of the crippling disease in living former players.
CTE is indicated by a buildup of tau, an abnormal protein that strangles brain cells in areas that control memory, emotions and other functions. Autopsies of more than 50 ex-NFL players, including Hall of Famer Mike Webster and perennial All-Pro Junior Seau, who committed suicide last year, found such tau concentrations.
Dorsett, in an appearance Wednesday afternoon on ESPN’s “Dan LeBatard Is Highly Questionable” show acknowledged he had been tested at UCLA and received results: “I’m not going to say too much more about it … I’m trying to be proactive rather than reactive.”
Two weeks ago, upon arriving in California for his evaluation and brain scan at UCLA, Dorsett described to “Outside the Lines” the symptoms that compelled him to seek testing: memory loss, depression and thoughts of suicide
The 59-year-old Dorsett said that when he took his flight from Dallas to Los Angeles on October 21 for further testing, he repeatedly forgot why he was even on the flight and where he was going. This is said to be a regular occurrence for him.
The NFL declined to comment on the matter, and have continuously shot down scientific claims about football’s link with CTE.