Saying that he has had multiple concussions, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash has decided to donate his brain to CTE research.
Nash told ACC Magazine about his decision to donate his brain and spinal cord to the CTE Center at Boston University and the Concussion Legacy Foundation, following his death. The center was founded by former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski and Dr. Robert Cantu.
“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," Nash told the magazine. "The only way you can diagnose this is after you’re dead.”
Dozens of wrestlers currently are involved in a class action suit against WWE, where Nash spent the bulk of his career, claiming they suffered brain trauma including CTE while wrestling for the company. Nash is not one of the plaintiffs in the suit.
Nowinski, whose own wrestling career ended due to concussions, issued a statement on Nash's decision:
"It’s so powerful when icons like Kevin 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."
Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2015, Nash was a world champion for both WWE and WCW in the 1990s.
