Kevin Nash will donate brain to CTE research

WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash told ESPN yesterday that he will donate his brain and spinal cord to CTE research after his death with the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation run by former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski being selected as recipients. “Chris Nowinski started the program, and I’ve had several concussions throughout my life and had scans done and stuff and knew that somewhere down the line, I’ve already had short-term memory problems. I decided to go ahead. The only way you can diagnose this is after you’re dead,” Nash said. He added that he carries a card in his wallet that says his brain and spine goes to them and it’s also in his will. The former WWE and WCW champion said that he made the decision to donate his brain six or seven years ago and has been working with the center at Boston University. While scans of his brain showed abnormalities, there has been no evidence of brain shrinkage. He also said he has been more emotional in recent years and that he has experienced short-term memory loss but isn’t sure if that is related to prior brain trauma.

Chris Nowinski said that it’s “powerful” when people like Nash are willing to pledge their brain for research and talk about it publicly. ”Brain donation is really driving our growing knowledge of CTE and the long-term effects of brain trauma. And so I’m hoping that we solve this problem before Kevin’s time comes, but Kevin announcing this means that other families are aware that this research is important and that if they lose somebody, they may think of the concussion legacy foundation.”

Colin Vassallo has been editor of Wrestling-Online since 1996