Page 46 - MIN VOS 26 NOV 2015

SPORTS A17
Thursday 26 November 2015

Frank Gifford’s SWEET
family says CTE 16
found in his brain
Warriors make NBA history with 16-0 start
NEW YORK (AP) -- The family
of Pro Football Hall of Fam- Page 20
er Frank Gifford says signs of
the degenerative disease Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the second half of an
chronic traumatic enceph-
alopathy were found in his NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. The Warriors won 111-77. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen
brain after his death.
In a statement released Curry (30) drives past Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Oakland, Calif.,
through NBC News on
Wednesday, the family said Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015. The Warriors won 111-77. Associated Press
he had “experienced first-
hand” symptoms associat-
ed with CTE but did not of-
fer specifics. Gifford died of
natural causes at his Con-
necticut home in August at
age 84.
His widow, Kathie Lee Gif-
ford, is a host for NBC’s “To-
day.” The statement said
that the family “made the
difficult decision to have
his brain studied in hopes
of contributing to the ad-
vancement of medical re-
search concerning the link
between football and trau-
matic brain injury.”
“Our suspicions that he was
suffering from the debilitat-
ing effects of head trauma
were confirmed,” the Gif-
fords added. CTE, which
can be diagnosed only af-
ter death, has been found
in the brains of dozens of
former players. Linked to
repeated brain trauma, it is
associated with symptoms
such as memory loss, im-
paired judgment, depres-
sion, and, eventually, pro-
gressive dementia.
The statement said the
family found “comfort in
knowing that by disclos-
ing his condition we might
contribute positively to the
ongoing conversation that
needs to be had; that he
might be an inspiration for
others suffering with this dis-
ease that needs to be ad-
dressed in the present; and
that we might be a small
part of the solution to an ur-
gent problem concerning
anyone involved with foot-
ball, at any level.”

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