Links - CBC News Health Punch drunk brain condition foun - North River Minor Hockey Association

CBC News Health Punch drunk brain condition found in exNHLerskip to main content (press enter) CBCca News news drop down menu Sports sports drop down menu Radio radio drop down menu TV tv drop down menu My Region my region drop down menu More more drop down menu Watch watch drop down menu Listen listen drop down menu Search CBCca Submit Search Sign Up Log In HealthHome World Canada BC Calgary Edmonton Saskatchewan Manitoba Thunder Bay Sudbury Windsor Toronto Ottawa Montreal NB PEI NS NL North Politics Health Arts & Entertainment Music Film Television Books Media Art & Design Theatre Technology & Science Money Consumer Life Diversions Weather Your Voice REPUBLISH EMAIL PRINT Text Size S M L XL REPORT TYPO SEND YOUR FEEDBACK Punch drunk brain condition found in exNHLer Last Updated Monday December 21 2009 152 PM ET Comments122Recommend74CBC News Photo on the left shows abundant tau tangles (dark brown dots) in the cerebral cortex in a pattern unique to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) A higher magnification image on right shows a closer view of the tangles in nerve cells (Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy) A now deceased NHL player had a brain condition linked to concussions the first time a professional hockey player has been diagnosed with the diseaseReggie Fleming played 13 crushing seasons as a defenceman and forward during the 1960s and 1970s Fleming was one of the National Hockey Leagues hardest hitters in the days before helmetsAfter Fleming died on July 11 at the age of 73 he became the first NHL player to have his brain examined by the Sports Legacy Institute which is studying the longterm impact of concussionsWe discovered that Mr Fleming was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy when he died said Chris Nowinski codirector of the institute in Boston Its a progressive degenerative disease Chronic traumatic encephalopathyCTE is characterized by a buildup of a toxic protein called tau the same abnormal protein found in Alzheimers disease At first the abnormal protein impairs normal brain function and eventually kills brain cellsThe symptoms memory impairment emotional instability erratic behaviour depression and problems with impulse control and eventually dementia are similar to Alzheimers which is why athletes may be misdiagnosed But the proteins are distributed in different parts of the brainCTE is caused by repetitive concussive or subconcussive blows to the head but the symptoms of the disease might not appear for years or decades after the head traumaSource Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University School of MedicineChronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE is commonly referred to as being punch drunk The condition is well documented in boxing and football where even young athletes who have taken repeated blows to the head can show signs of mental impairment usually se...