Jeff Astle: West Brom legend 'killed by boxing brain condition'

[Northerner]

Ex-England striker Jeff Astle died from a brain condition normally linked to boxers rather than Alzheimer's disease as previously thought, a neurosurgeon has claimed.

Dr Willie Stewart carried out a new examination of the former West Bromwich Albion forward's brain.

He said Astle, who died, aged 59, in 2002, was killed by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

He said this had been caused by heading footballs.

Dr Stewart said CTE was formerly known as dementia pugilistica - a progressive degeneration of the the brain caused by repeated head trauma.

He said the condition was frequently mistaken for dementia, as happened to Astle when he was incorrectly diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-27654892

 

[trophywench]

Laraine (his widow) was in our class at school. A little dot of a girl with short very dark brown hair. Everyone went 'Gosh' when she married him.

Another girl at in our year at school had been a previous girlfriend of his and another one was engaged to Asa Hartford. No idea whether they married or not.

Desperately trying to think of Laraine's maiden name - there was also a Lorraine and not seen or heard of either really for nearly 50 years - but it got a bit confusing !


mmmm - might have been Davis or Davies?

Anyway, they have ALWAYS said that about his headers causing it, right from when he was first diagnosed.