Matt Hasselbeck Joins Research Effort to Diagnose CTE in Living Patients
The former three-time Pro Bowl quarterback spent two days at Boston University undergoing cognitive testing, an MRI and a PET scan, and has committed to donating his brain for research after death.
Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck spent two days at Boston University's CTE Center undergoing a battery of tests as part of an effort to develop a way to diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy in living patients, a disease currently confirmed only after death.
What did the testing involve?
Hasselbeck underwent cognitive tasks such as counting backward from 100 by sevens and reciting the alphabet backward, along with a blood draw, an MRI and a PET scan that maps brain function and activity.
Why is this research significant?
CTE can currently only be diagnosed posthumously through examination of brain tissue. Boston University's CTE Center, the leading research institution on the disease, is working to identify biomarkers or imaging signatures that would allow doctors to detect it in living patients.
What is Hasselbeck's broader commitment?
Beyond this round of testing, Hasselbeck has pledged to donate his brain for research after his death. He said his motivation is to give back to the football community, including former teammates who have dealt with the effects of head trauma.
What's his football background?
Hasselbeck was a three-time Pro Bowl quarterback over a 17-year NFL career, most notably leading the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl XL. He later worked as an NFL analyst for ESPN from 2016 to 2023.
Sources
- ESPN: Ex-QB Matt Hasselbeck part of quest for living diagnosis of CTE
