Here's what to know about CTE, the brain disease the NYC shooter blamed for his mental health issues
The Las Vegas casino worker who
killed four people
in a New York City skyscraper that is home to the NFL's headquarters carried a note blaming the league for mental health problems he attributed to his time as a high school football player.
Shane Tamura, 27, said in a
three-page note found in his wallet
that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy — diagnosable only after death — and implored those who found him: 'Study my brain.' Among his grievances against the NFL was a claim that the league put its profits ahead of player safety by concealing the harm CTE, and football, can cause.
Echoing an eerie trend in NFL player suicides, he shot himself in the chest, preserving his brain for an autopsy that could confirm whether his layman's diagnosis was correct.
A degenerative brain disease that has been linked to concussions and other head trauma common in military combat and contact sports, CTE has been diagnosed in more than 100 former NFL players and arisen as an existential threat to the United States' most powerful pro sports league.
Its dangers have led some states to consider banning youth football, prompted leagues at most levels to limit contact drills in practice, and spawned a series of concussion protocols and other rule changes designed to take the most violent edges off the hard-hitting sport.
Here is what we know and don't know about the connection between CTE, the NFL and the shooter.
What is CTE?
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy can affect regions of the brain involved with
regulating behavior and emotions
. This can lead to memory loss, depression, violent mood swings and other cognitive and behavioral issues, though researchers note that these symptoms can also be linked to other illnesses.
Experts say symptoms can arise years or decades after the last brain trauma. Evidence of the disease has been found not just in those with long professional careers but in high school athletes as well.
Why is it associated with the NFL?
Researchers have established a connection between CTE and contact sports, military combat and other activities with repeated blows to the head. After more than a decade of denial, the NFL conceded the link between football and CTE in 2016 testimony before Congress, and has so far paid more than $1.4 billion to retired players to settle concussion-related claims.
The 2015 Will Smith film 'Concussion' detailed the pioneering efforts of forensic pathologist Bennet Omalu, whose diagnosis of CTE in Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame center Mike Webster was the first in a former NFL player. Hall of Famers Ken Stabler, Frank Gifford and Junior Seau have also been diagnosed with CTE, as has
Aaron Hernandez
; in a 2017 paper, evidence of the disease was found 110 of the 111
former NFL players' brains studied
.
Did the NFL headquarters shooter have CTE?
It's not possible to say.
For now, CTE can only be diagnosed definitively by examining the brain posthumously through an autopsy. According to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, progressive degeneration of brain tissue in people with CTE includes the buildup of an abnormal protein called tau in a pattern that distinguishes it from other diseases such as Alzheimer's.
___
Associated Press writers Maryclaire Dale and Laura Ungar contributed to this story.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Jim Kelly posts heartbreaking tribute for son Hunter 20 years after his death
Jim Kelly is remembering his son Hunter on the 20-year anniversary of his death. The 65-year-old Hall of Fame quarterback, who spent his entire 11-year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, per ESPN, shares two daughters — Erin and Camryn — with his wife of 29 years, Jill Kelly. The couple also share a son Hunter, who died of Krabbe disease on Aug. 5, 2005. He was 8 years old. 'Words are simply not enough to express how my heart is today,' Jim Kelly wrote in a caption on Instagram alongside photos of him and Hunter. 'So many things going in and out of my mind especially this last month. I can only reach out and ask people for prayers,' he added in the Aug. 5 post. In the final slide, Jim and Jill Kelly are seen wearing black T-shirts with 'Hunter' written on them. 'Hunter, I can't wait for the day that I get to join you in heaven. But I have a lot of loving to do right here at Home. I MISS YOU HB,' he continued. Jill Kelly also took to Instagram to post a tribute for Hunter. 'How can it be 20 years without Hunter? How can it feel like just yesterday and a million days ago? How did we walk through that heartbreak and survive?' she wrote in the caption. 'Not a single day has passed without thinking of Hunter, missing him and wishing he was here,' she added. Hunter, who shares a birthday with his father, was born on Feb. 14, 1997. At the time, he was diagnosed with Krabbe leukodystrophy. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Krabbe disease 'is a rare, inherited condition that affects the myelin that covers and protects your nerve cells, causing neurological issues.' It occurs in about 1 per 250,000 live births in the United States, per the Cleveland Clinic. There's no known cure for the disease. Despite being given no more than three years to live at the time of his diagnosis, per ESPN, Hunter went on to live well beyond his 8th birthday. He also inspired his parents to establish the Hunter's Hope Foundation in 1997, per its official website. The nonprofit has raised millions of dollars to 'address the acute need for information and research with respect to Krabbe Disease and related Leukodystrophies,' per its 2024 annual report. It also strives to 'support and encourage those afflicted and their families as they struggle to endure, adjust, and cope with the demands of these fatal illnesses,' per the report. Jim Kelly's tribute comes one month after another tragedy in the family. In July, Jim Kelly's daughter, Erin, welcomed her first baby with her husband, Parker Bean. Later that week, Jim Kelly took to Instagram with a heartbreaking update. 'Well, we need your prayers again,' he wrote in a July 13 Instagram post. 'We never imagined we would be here in this place of heartbreak and suffering again. Please pray for our daughter Erin, her husband Parker, and their precious newborn baby boy,' he added. Jim Kelly didn't elaborate on the details but clarified that his grandson was born with 'unexpected medical complications.' The family has kept their fans in the loop ever since, with Jim Kelly's latest update coming on Aug. 3. 'Watching Erin and Parker walk through this is heartbreaking,' he wrote in the caption. 'It puts everything in perspective and reminds us again and again that we are not in control.' 'The doctors have decided to pause any changes until August 11th, to give Little Bean time to grow, rest, and get stronger,' he added. 'They're holding off on taking him off his medication until then.'
New York Post
5 hours ago
- New York Post
Americans eat half their calories from ultra-processed foods, CDC says
Most Americans get more than half their calories from ultra-processed foods, those super-tasty, energy-dense foods typically full of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, according to a new federal report. Nutrition research has shown for years that ultra-processed foods make up a big chunk of the U.S. diet, especially for kids and teens. For the first time, however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed those high levels of consumption, using dietary data collected from August 2021 to August 2023. Advertisement 6 Most Americans get more than half their calories from ultra-processed foods, according to a new federal report. AP The report comes amid growing scrutiny of such foods by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who blames them for causing chronic disease. 'We are poisoning ourselves and it's coming principally from these ultra-processed foods,' Kennedy told Fox News earlier this year. Overall, about 55% of total calories consumed by Americans age 1 and older came from ultra-processed foods during that period, according to the report. For adults, ultra-processed foods made up about 53% of total calories consumed, but for kids through age 18, it was nearly 62%. Advertisement The top sources included burgers and sandwiches, sweet baked goods, savory snacks, pizza, and sweetened drinks. Young children consumed fewer calories from ultra-processed foods than older kids, the report found. Adults 60 and older consumed fewer calories from those sources than younger adults. Low-income adults consumed more ultra-processed foods than those with higher incomes. Advertisement The results were not surprising, said co-author Anne Williams, a CDC nutrition expert. 6 Overall, about 55% of total calories consumed by Americans age 1 and older came from ultra-processed foods during that period, according to the report. Roman – What was surprising was that consumption of ultra-processed foods appeared to dip slightly over the past decade. Among adults, total calories from those sources fell from about 56% in 2013-2014 and from nearly 66% for kids in 2017-2018. Williams said she couldn't speculate about the reason for the decline or whether consumption of less processed foods increased. Advertisement But Andrea Deierlein, a nutrition expert at New York University who was not involved in the research, suggested that there may be greater awareness of the potential harms of ultra-processed foods. 6 The top sources included burgers and sandwiches, sweet baked goods, savory snacks, pizza, and sweetened drinks. Shutterstock 'People are trying, at least in some populations, to decrease their intakes of these foods,' she said. Concern over ultra-processed foods' health effects has been growing for years, but finding solutions has been difficult. Many studies have linked them to obesity, diabetes and heart disease, but they haven't been able to prove that the foods directly cause those chronic health problems. One small but influential study found that even when diets were matched for calories, sugar, fat, fiber and micronutrients, people consumed more calories and gained more weight when they ate ultra-processed foods than when they ate minimally processed foods. 6 For adults, ultra-processed foods made up about 53% of total calories consumed, but for kids through age 18, it was nearly 62%. Meritxell Cid – Research published this week in the journal Nature found that participants in a clinical trial lost twice as much weight when they ate minimally processed foods — such as pasta, chicken, fruits and vegetables — than ultra-processed foods, even those matched for nutrition components and considered healthy, such as ready-to-heat frozen meals, protein bars and shakes. Advertisement Part of the problem is simply defining ultra-processed foods. The new CDC report used the most common definition based on the four-tier Nova system developed by Brazilian researchers that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo. 6 Research found that participants in a clinical trial lost twice as much weight when they ate minimally processed foods — such as pasta, chicken, fruits and vegetables — than ultra-processed foods. nerudol – Such foods tend to be 'hyperpalatable, energy-dense, low in dietary fiber and contain little or no whole foods, while having high amounts of salt, sweeteners and unhealthy fats,' the CDC report said. Advertisement U.S. health officials recently said there are concerns over whether current definitions 'accurately capture' the range of foods that may affect health. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department recently issued a request for information to develop a new, uniform definition of ultra-processed foods for products in the U.S. food supply. 6 U.S. health officials recently said there are concerns over whether current definitions 'accurately capture' the range of foods that may affect health. juliasudnitskaya – In the meantime, Americans should try to reduce ultra-processed foods in their daily diets, Deierlein said. Advertisement For instance, instead of instant oatmeal that may contain added sugar, sodium, artificial colors, and preservatives, use plain oats sweetened with honey or maple syrup. Read food packages and nutrition information, she suggested. 'I do think that there are less-processed options available for many foods,' she said.
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
RFK Jr.'s vow to overhaul vaccine injury program echoes grievances of anti-vaccine movement
WASHINGTON (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is vowing to 'fix' the federal program for compensating Americans injured by vaccines, opening the door to sweeping changes for a system long targeted by anti-vaccine activists. Health experts and lawyers say updates are needed to help clear a backlog of cases in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, created by Congress in 1986 as a no-fault payment system for presumed vaccine injuries. But they also worry Kennedy's changes will reflect his history as a leader in the anti-vaccine movement, which has alternately called for abolishing the program or expanding it to cover unproven injuries and illnesses that aren't connected to vaccines. Kennedy and other critics believe the program is 'too miserly in what it considers to be a vaccine injury,' said Jason Schwartz, a public health expert at Yale University. 'That's created great concern that he could expand what's included.' Anti-vaccine groups have long suggested a link between vaccines and autism, despite scientific consensus that childhood vaccines don't cause the condition. Adding autism to the list of injuries covered by the plan 'would dramatically increase the number of compensable cases, potentially bankrupting it," Schwartz said. Program is credited with saving the U.S. vaccine industry Signed into law under President Ronald Reagan, the compensation program is designed to provide quick, efficient compensation to Americans who report known injuries associated with vaccines, such as rare allergic reactions. At the time of its creation, a number of vaccine-makers were exiting the business due to risks of class action lawsuits. In a recent social media post, Kennedy called the program 'broken' and accused federal lawyers and adjudicators who run it of 'inefficiency, favoritism and outright corruption.' Kennedy didn't specify the changes he's seeking. But some of the people he's enlisted to help have a history of bringing vaccine injury cases. In June, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded a $150,000 contract to an Arizona law firm for 'expertise' in the program. The firm's Andrew Downing, an attorney specializing in vaccine injury cases, was listed in the HHS staff directory for a time. 'We just brought a guy in this week who is going to be revolutionizing the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program,' Kennedy told Tucker Carlson shortly after the award. Revamping the program would be the latest in a string of decisions that have upended U.S. vaccine policy, including this week's cancellation of research funding for vaccines using mRNA technology. Downing and Kennedy have had roles in HPV vaccine lawsuits Downing has had a leading role in lawsuits against Merck alleging injuries from its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, including a rare movement disorder. In a podcast last year for people with the condition, Downing lamented that the injury compensation program 'has taken a hard line' against such cases, leading lawyers to file injury lawsuits in civil court. Approximately 70% of the Gardasil cases against Merck started as claims filed by Downing in the federal injury program, according to court records. A judge dismissed more than 120 of those cases, citing 'a paucity of evidence" that Gardasil caused patients' problems. A spokesman for Kennedy declined to comment on Downing's hiring. Kennedy himself has been involved in the Gardasil litigation, as both an attorney and consultant. Before joining the government, Kennedy received payments for referring potential Gardasil clients to Wisner Baum, one of the law firms suing Merck. Following questions about the agreement during his confirmation hearings, Kennedy agreed to give up his stake in the deal and transfer any future fees to 'a nondependent, adult son," according to his financial disclosures. One of Kennedy's sons is an attorney at Wisner Baum. Experts see need for reform Experts who study vaccine compensation say real changes are needed to modernize the 40-year-old program. The cap on compensation remains $250,000 for injury or death, the same as in 1986. Similarly, the program still has eight adjudicators, known as special masters, to review all cases before the government. On average, the process takes two to three years. The fund has paid out $5.4 billion, compensating about 40% of all people who filed claims. The U.S. has an 'ethical obligation' to promptly pay those harmed by government-recommended vaccines, says Dorit Reiss, a professor at the University of California Hastings College of the Law. 'Plus, I think it increases trust in the vaccination program if you have quick, generous compensation,' Reiss said. One possible change: Adding injuries As health secretary, Kennedy has broad powers to reshape the program. One approach could be adding new diseases and illnesses to the government table of payable injuries. In the early 2000s, the program ruled against more than 5,000 claims from families who said vaccines led to their children's autism, citing hundreds of scientific studies discrediting the link. Critics of Kennedy say he could claim that he has new evidence of harm — perhaps from a large autism study he's commissioned — and add the condition to the program. In response, the federal government might have to increase taxes on vaccines to replenish the compensation fund, which would make the shots more expensive and less accessible. 'Then you will start to watch the vaccine program infrastructure in this country disintegrate until someone steps in,' Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia who has clashed with Kennedy for years. A recent Senate hearing titled 'Voice of the Vaccine Injured' appeared to make the case for expanding the program. Witnesses included two representatives from Children's Health Defense, the nonprofit group that Kennedy previously chaired and has repeatedly sued the government over vaccines. The group's chief science officer, Brian Hooker, told lawmakers he tried unsuccessfully for 16 years trying to get compensation for his son's autism, which he attributes to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Another possible change: Removing vaccines Another approach would involve removing certain vaccines from the program, making it easier to bring lawsuits against vaccine-makers. Under current law, people claiming injuries from vaccines covered by the program must first pursue a compensation claim before they can sue. In cases where the science doesn't support a connection to vaccines, lawyers might be more successful before a jury. 'Jury trials take advantage of the fact that most jurors don't know anything about science or medicine,' Offit said. 'They are not going to be as easily moved by the data.' Still, attorneys who bring cases before the compensation program say the process has become more burdensome and adversarial over the years. Even small changes could improve things. For instance, the statute of limitations for claims could be extended beyond the current three years, which lawyers say cuts off many potential clients. 'I'm hoping there will be changes put in place that make the program easier for petitioners to navigate' said Leah Durant, a vaccine injury attorney. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
