Derek Boogaard, Former New York Ranger, Donates Brain After Death

Former hockey player, Derek Boogaard, of the New York Rangers and former member of the Minnesota Wild was recently found dead in his apartment. His parents have donated his brain to the Sports Legacy Institute and the Boston University Medical School to help research brain injuries. The hope is to study the effects of concussions.

Dr. Co-director for Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Robert Stern, confirmed that Boogard's family has donated his brain to the VA CSTE Brain Bank. The organization specializes in researching trauma on the brain and spinal cord that have been harmed by sports-related activities.

Boogaard is not the only athlete who has had his brain donated. David Duerson, former Chicago Bears safety, asked that his brain be donated to science after his death. Before his death, Duerson had been working hard to raise awareness about brain injuries. For instance, he told his family that he wished for his brain to be donated before he died.

His death also raised questions about the long-term side-effects of brain injuries that are experienced during sports-related activities. Duerson died of a suicide attempt.

Examining his brain, researchers uncovered moderately advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a dementia-like disease that affects athletes exposed to repeated brain trauma, and it affects areas of the brain that control judgment, inhibition, impulse control, mood, and memory. Scientists will also try to find evidence of CTE in his brain.

Evidence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that 1.7 million people sustain a brain injury each year. Of those, 275,000 are hospitalized and close to 52,000 will die. Concussions account for almost 75 percent of total traumatic brain injuries. 16.5 percent of all brain injuries are caused by situations where people strike something or are stuck against something such as what often occurs in sports. Athletes are put at much higher risk for sustaining a brain injury that could result in long-term effects.

Several law makers have attempted to pass congressional bills requiring tougher regulations for the safety of athletes. For example, New Jersey's Gov. Chris Christie (R) signed a bill into law earlier this year that mandates public and private school athletic coaches to eliminate any student who shows symptoms of a concussion.

In addition, there has been research into the construction of athletic helmets to better regulate a safer construction of helmets. Stricter regulations would give more protection to athletes, both amateur and professional. Just this past year, many law makers have conducted such investigations into the safer use of popular helmets that are used in student and professional sports.