Former NFL Wide Receiver Demaryius Thomas Suffering From Stage 2 CTE

Demaryius Thomas, a former NFL wide receiver, has been posthumously identified as suffering from CTE, according to his family and also the Concussion Legacy Foundation.

Thomas was discovered dead in his Roswell, Georgia, home on December 9. According to the CTE Center at Boston University, Thomas had stage 2 CTE, which has been linked to signs like fear and anxiety as well as depression.

What Is CTE?

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that is hypothesized to be brought on by repeated head trauma and concussions.

The fourth stage is the worst. Stage IV patients initially experience executive dysfunction as well as memory loss before suffering from severe memory loss and dementia.

Thomas had indeed been retired from the NFL for a little more than six months when he passed away at the age of 33.

Thomas’ mother, Katina Smith, claimed that as soon as she learned about CTE and started getting acquainted with the symptoms, she saw that Demaryius was withdrawing from people.

The reason and mode of Thomas’ death have not yet been disclosed by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office, nor has a copy of the autopsy report been made public. A response to a Tuesday email from the office was delayed.

His Health Condition Before His Death

Late last year, Thomas’ cousin LaTonya Bonseigneur informed The Associated Press that the ex-wide receiver was already experiencing seizures for over a year previous to passing away. She stated that according to the family’s speculation, Thomas passed away following a seizure.

Doctors at BU believe the seizures were probably unrelated to CTE, as per a press statement from the Concussion Legacy Foundation, which enabled the study of Thomas’ brain. Thomas began experiencing seizures in the autumn of 2020, roughly a year after he got injured in a catastrophic vehicle accident in Denver, according to family members and acquaintances who spoke to The New York Times.

According to Ann McKee, head of the BU CTE Center, the ex-NFL player was dealing with two conditions concurrently.

According to USA TODAY, Thomas played in the NFL for ten seasons, most of which were engaged with the Denver Broncos. During that time, he ended up winning one Super Bowl ring and also was nominated for five Pro Bowls. He later had brief spells with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, and Houston Texans. He caught 724 receptions in total for 9,763 yards as a professional.

 

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