Autopsy Shows Former NFL Star Demaryius Thomas Had Stage 2 CTE Before Death at 33

The death of former Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas stunned the sports world, and now researchers are shedding light on his health before his untimely passing at 33. 

Thomas' family revealed that doctors from Boston University have discovered that Demaryius suffered from Stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) late in his life. Doctors previously revealed that Thomas' death was caused by a seizure stemming from a 2019 car crash, but added that the CTE contributed to "increasingly erratic" behavior before his death. 

Boston University's medical team agreed with the prior diagnosis, as they explained that the seizures "attacked with little or no warning and led Thomas to wreck other cars and fall down steps." Dr. Ann McKee, a neurologist and leading authority on CTE, told The New York Times that Demaryius "had two different conditions in parallel." 

Demaryius' family also shared concerns they had before his death, with his mother telling The Times that after he retired, Demaryius told her that "his peripheral vision was diminished." Demaryius' father also revealed that his son was paranoid "to the point that he never left home without a gun." Before his death, Demaryius was dependent on medical care, including anti-seizure medication, ozone therapy, and hyperbaric chamber treatment.

Source: New York Times