Researchers at the BU Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) and the Department of Veterans Affairs in Bedford, Mass. have discovered a new motor neuron disease that mimics ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, which may be connected to head trauma. Their findings, based on their work with former athletes, have been published in the September 2010 issue of the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology. BU Today covered the findings, and spoke with CSTE codirectors Robert Stern, Christopher Nowinski, and Ann McKee (video above).

More information:

• Boston University and Department of Veterans Affairs Researchers Discover Brain Trauma in Sports May Cause a New Disease that Mimics ALS (Press Release)
• Study Says Brain Trauma Can Mimic ALS (New York Times)