Dr Bennet Omalu Biography

Dr. Bennet Omalu is the forensic pathologist credited with the discovery of the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, (CTE). Omalu first came into contact with CTE when he was working at the Pittsburgh coroner's office, when he was tasked with performing the autopsy on famous Steelers center Mike Webster. He eventually came to believe that the depression and dementia Webster had suffered prior to his death was linked to the hits he took playing football(Concussion 2). After Omalu had the slides made, spending tens of thousands of dollars of his own money, he finally made a key discovery pathological buildup of a protein called tau(Historical Foundation of CTE). While tau belongs in a healthy brain, too much and the proteins tangle up and strangle off healthy cells. Dr .Omalu's autopsy of former Pittsburgh Steelers player Mike Webster in 2002 led to Dr .Omalu's discovery of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or (CTE) in National Football League Players. Webster had died suddenly and unexpectedly, following years of struggling with cognitive and intellectual impairment, destitution, mood disorders, depression, drug abuse, and suicide attempts (Omalu 4). Although Webster’s brain looked normal …show more content…
Brain trauma can cause a build-up of an abnormal type of a protein called tau, which slowly kills brain cells (Play Hard, Die Young 37). Once started, these changes in the brain appear to continue to progress even after exposure to brain trauma has ended. Possible symptoms include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, paranoia, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and eventually progressive dementia. Symptoms can begin to appear months, years, or even decades after trauma has ended. Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed after death by brain tissue