It has just been reported that BMX icon Dave Mirra, who took his life earlier this year, has been found to have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he was still alive.
According to reports, CTE is the same concussion-induced brain injury that many athletes are impacted with. The diagnosis was made by neuropathologist Dr. Lili-Naz Hazrati from the University of Toronto. The claims of Hazrati was also supported by many other doctors, Auto Blog reported.
Hazrati pointed out that Mirra's brain's tau proteins were the major element in the neurons of the central nervous system that lead to the formation of abnormal deposits in the brains of those who are affected with CTE, The Guardian reported. However, CTE is diagnosed only after a person's death.
The neurologist added that there was no difference between the samples of Mirra and that from the other patients who had CTE. The trauma diagnosed is said to define the disease but it does not say how one acquired CTE. It is assumed that Mirra getting CTE is from multiple concussions that took place years back.
CTE could also manifest as emotional issues to the patients who are still alive. The widow of Mirra, Lauren, said in a statement that the late BMX star did have changes in his mood and that it got worse as time went by. Lauren added that her late husband was not able to be present in any situation or conversation so it was difficult to be in a relationship with him as he was lost.
USA Today reported that Greenville, North Carolina Mayor Allen Thomas, who was a friend of Mirra, mentioned during a news conference last February that it is possible he suffered from CTE before his death. He pointed out that Mirra has had big hits during the duration of his career. Thomas added, "You have to give pause, think and wonder as we hear about brain trauma in football and other sports, whether that played a factor."
Mirra was found dead inside his home last February 4. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Mirra won a number of X Games gold medals and fractured his skull when a car hit him back when he was 19. He also tried boxing after he retired from the BMX world.
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