Ex-QB plays role in CTE diagnosis | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Matt Hasselbeck is taking part in a research push aimed at diagnosing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) while people are still alive. The 50-year-old former NFL quarterback—also a four-year player at Boston College—spent two days at Boston University for scans and tests intended to measure the impact of decades of head collisions. The hope, according to study staff, is to build toward a breakthrough that has eluded doctors, because CTE is currently diagnosed only after death. CTE is a degenerative brain disease tied to concussions and other head trauma common in combat and contact sports. Hasselbeck’s involvement supports a broader, multi-site study.