Athletes to donate brains to BU

September 15, 1:51 AMCollege Community ExaminerChristine Cassis

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Head trauma, concussions and other serious injuries are somewhat part of the everyday life for a professional athlete, especially players from the NFL. But the severity and to what degree do these injuries take a toll on the body have yet to be determined.

Three NFL players are about the change that, along with Boston University.

According to NESN.com "Matt Birk of the Baltimore Ravens, Lofa Tatupu of the Seattle Seahawks (and son of former Patriot Mosi Tatupu) and Sean Morey of the Arizona Cardinals -- are joining former players in donating their brains after death to a BU program that studies sports brain injuries."

BU's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy will use the players' brain and spinal cord tissue to better understand the repercussions of some of the injuries sustained during their time playing intense, contact sports.

Already, more than 150 former athletes have signed up for the program's brain donation registry, including former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson.

For more information check out The Daily Free Press online and in print this week.