Study: Junior Seau Suffered From A Degenerative Brain Disease
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A brain analysis has revealed that NFL and USC great Junior Seau had a degenerative brain disease when he committed suicide last May.
Seau, 43, committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest at his Oceanside home on May 2, 2012.
No suicide note was found, according to the autopsy report, and family and friends said Seau didn't appear distraught or depressed.
Seau's family requested a brain analysis by the National Institute of Health. The study found the linebacker had abnormalities consistent with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, likely suffered during his 20-year NFL career.
The findings are similar to autopsy results from people who've had repetitive head injuries.
The NFL great joins a list of several dozen football players who had CTE.
Seau played for the Trojans as a standout linebacker in the late 1980s. He was a first round draft pick in 1990. He played professionally for two decades on the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots. Seau went to the Pro Bowl 12 times before retiring from the NFL in 2010.
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