The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

A recent study partially funded by the NFL has found a link between brain injuries and a condition very similar to Lou Gehrig's disease, also called ALS. The study evaluated three athletes who suffered serious brain injuries and were later diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. Toxic proteins were found in the spinal cords of these athletes. These proteins are also found in the brains of athletes who have developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease that causes cognitive deterioration, unusual behavior, and dementia.

These proteins were not found in the spinal cords of athletes suffering from CTE but not Lou Gehrig's disease, and they were not found in non-athletes who died of Lou Gehrig's disease.

These findings indicate that the condition affecting the three athletes who were part of the study was similar but not identical to ALS. Researchers have renamed the condition chronic traumatic encephalomyopathy (CTEM), and they believe it is "likely caused" by repetitive head trauma affecting many athletes involved in contact sports.

Researchers also believe that brain injuries suffered while playing baseball might have caused Lou Gehrig to develop ALS, although it is possible that he actually suffered from CTEM instead.

ALS is a condition that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, inhibiting an individual's ability to move and speak.

If you have suffered a brain injury caused by the negligence of another, the attorneys at The Cochran Firm can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Please contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation. We serve clients nationwide.