Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the latest athlete to announce that he will donate his brain in order to advance concussion research.
The NASCAR driver casually tweeted his intention after posting a Sports Illustrated article on three former Oakland Raiders who plan to donate their brains to honor their teammate, Ken Stabler.
Why? What use is it to you at that point? I’m gonna donate mine. https://t.co/cBMZ8yIQuA
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 27, 2016
I’m donating everything one way or another. https://t.co/DQlVYJmHDc
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) March 27, 2016
Earnhardt Jr.missed two races in 2012 due to suffering back-to-back concussions. He did not disclose his first concussion to those in the racing community.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease that affects those who have repeatedly suffered concussions or traumatic brain injury. It can only be diagnosed after death.
“This research is in its infancy,” Robert Stern, a Boston University School of Medicine professor of neurology and neurosurgery, told Cindy Boren of the Washington Post. “There are many outstanding questions, but we’re now working to answer them and making some progress.”
Earnhardt Jr. joins a long of list of athletes who have the same intention.
