Home / Health / Ex-Bruin Lyndon Byers Diagnosed With CTE Posthumously
Ex-Bruin Lyndon Byers Diagnosed With CTE Posthumously
30 May
Summary
- Lyndon Byers, former NHL player, was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE.
- His family authorized the release of results to raise awareness about the disease.
- CTE has been linked to athletes in contact sports like hockey and football.
Former Boston Bruins player Lyndon Byers was posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), his family announced last Thursday. Byers died last July at age 61. He had previously pledged to donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at Boston University's CTE Center.
Dr. Ann McKee of the Boston University CTE Center confirmed Byers had Stage 3 CTE, a progressive disease linked to contact sports. She noted that individuals with this stage often experience cognitive symptoms and dementia. The Byers family's decision to share these results aims to advance research for CTE diagnosis and treatment.
Byers was a fan favorite during his nine seasons with the Bruins, known for his physical play and accumulating 959 penalty minutes. His widow, Anne Byers, described significant personality changes after his playing career, including social withdrawal, severe depression, hallucinations, and short-term memory loss.
The Concussion & CTE Foundation reports that 19 out of 20 former NHL players studied at Boston University's CTE Center were diagnosed with CTE posthumously. Anne Byers urged the NHL to improve player safety and player awareness regarding head injuries.
