Former NFL star accused of murder had ‘severe’ brain disease

The family of Aaron Hernandez file lawsuit against his team and the sport’s governing body

Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez took his own life in prison
Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez committed suicide in prison
(Image credit: 2012 Getty Images)

A former American footballer who took his own life in prison in April this year had a “severe case” of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease associated with head injury, according to his family’s lawyer.

The disease has been “found in 99% of deceased NFL players’ brains that were donated to scientific research,” CNN reports.

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