Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE a year after ALS death

""By sharing Steve's diagnosis, we want to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS," McMichael's wife Misty said. "Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death. I donated Steve's brain to inspire new research into the link between them.""

""There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS," said Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center. "About 6% of people with CTE also have ALS.""

Steve McMichael, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle, was diagnosed posthumously with Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death from ALS. His wife donated his brain to researchers at Boston University to study the connection between repetitive head trauma and ALS. McMichael's diagnosis aims to raise awareness of the link between CTE and ALS, as many NFL players develop ALS during life and are diagnosed with CTE posthumously. Research indicates a significant correlation between repetitive brain trauma and ALS.

Read at Los Angeles Times