Professional bull rider Ty Pozzobon鈥檚 donated brain has revealed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to researchers from the University of Washington.
It is the first confirmed case of a professional bull rider with CTE, a disease known to affect boxers, football players, and other athletes who sustain numerous concussions.
Pozzobon鈥檚 brain was donated to traumatic brain injury research earlier this year, after he died by suicide on January 9.
Following his death, a family spokesperson said 25-year-old Pozzobon had suffered from depression, anxiety and the effects of a number of concussions he had sustained in recent years as a bull rider.
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Pozzobon鈥檚 family arranged to have his brain donated to the University of Washington School of Medicine Neuropathology Core, a medical research group that works on traumatic brain injuries and concussions. Leanne Pozzobon, Ty鈥檚 mother, said at the time that, 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that people know about the implications of head injuries as a result of concussions.鈥�
Those implications are becoming clearer now, following the study of Pozzobon鈥檚 brain.
On Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 10), UW Medicine researchers Dr. C. Dirk Keene and Dr. Christine MacDonald announced they had concluded that Pozzobon had 鈥渘europathologic changes diagnostic of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),鈥� making Pozzobon the first confirmed case of CTE in a professional bull rider.
CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease found in people who have a history of repetitive brain trauma. According to the CTE Centre, a research facility based out of Boston University, symptoms of CTE can include memory loss, depression, anxiety and 鈥渟uicidality.鈥�
Evidence of chronic, widespread injury was also discovered in Pozzobon鈥檚 brain, which was consistent with the traumatic brain injury found during an MRI that he had before his death.
In a statement released Tuesday, Pozzobon鈥檚 family said they wished to thank the University of Washington School of Medicine 鈥渇or their time and care during this process.鈥�
鈥淭he results that they have provided can only help others and that is the family鈥檚 wish and goal. Ty鈥檚 passing has brought so much sorrow and pain to all, we hope everyone, specifically athletes understand that we need to educate each other with regards to head injuries, both short and long-term impacts,鈥� the statement reads.
The family said they did not want people to stop doing what they are passionate about, but that they wanted people to 鈥渄o it in a smarter way, and listen to both what the medical professionals tell you and what your body and mind are telling you.鈥�
According to UW Medicine, Pozzobon鈥檚 brain tissue 鈥渨ill contribute to numerous studies aimed at better understanding the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in order to develop better diagnostic tests and new treatments.鈥�
editor@cloverdalereporter.com
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