Doctors study damaged brains of athletes

BOSTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- A former pro wrestler has joined with doctors in Massachusetts to build a bank of brain tissue from athletes who suffered concussions.

Chris Nowinski, 30, a Harvard-educated sociologist, was named "Newcomer of the Year" in 2001 by World Wrestling Entertainment.

After suffering numerous concussions, however, Nowinski studied long-term ailments such as Alzheimer's disease, depression and so-called "punch-drunk syndrome" that affect many retired boxers and hockey and football players, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Sunday.

With $100,000 from the National Institutes of Health, Nowinski formed Sports Legacy Institute, a non-profit that has banked brain tissue from 12 dead athletes, including former Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Webster, Terry Long and Justin Strzelczyk. All three died relatively young after exhibiting symptoms researchers said was related to head trauma.

"A lot of widows, (National Football League) wives, are supporting our work, and they talk to each other about it. They want something positive to come out of a tragedy," Nowinski said.

Sports Legacy Institute is overseen by Dr. Robert Stern, a professor of neurology at Boston University's School of Medicine and co-director of the Alzheimer's Disease Clinical and Research Program.