Researchers urge brain autopsy of bombing suspect (for brain disease from boxing)

[morningfog]

Two pioneering researchers of brain disease among athletes in violent sports recommended Saturday that investigators conduct special autopsy tests on amateur boxer Tamerlan Tsarnaev to determine whether the Boston Marathon bombing suspect could have been affected by boxing-related brain damage.

The researchers expressed serious doubt the disease — chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE — could have factored in the wave of violence that led to Tsarnaev’s death early Friday in a firefight with police.

But they suggested investigators would be remiss if they did not autopsy Tsarnaev’s brain for signs of CTE. The disease can only be diagnosed through post-mortem forensic tests of the brain.

“I hope to God they do the special testing,’’ said Dr. Robert Cantu, a clinical professor of neurosurgery at Boston University School of Medicine.

http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/2013/04/20/researchers-urge-special-brain-autopsy-bombing-suspect/UoZExTff0K4olSTyIV5WGL/story.html

[hedgehog]

1. From what I've read, chronic traumatic ecephalopathy may be associated with

abrupt violence, but not well planned acts.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I was told yesterday that all coroner offices have the gear

Which I knew they don't.

Good, I hope they do it...and in this case, due to criminal act, family has zero say in this.