Story highlights Kevin Turner was a lead plaintiff in a concussion lawsuit against the NFLTurner was diagnosed with ALS in 2010, but his death is now attributed to CTE(CNN) Former pro football player Kevin Turner died having the most advanced stage of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE, a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma. He played for the Patriots for three seasons followed by five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2010 and passed away in March. In a statement, McKee said, "The severity of Mr. Turner's CTE was extraordinary and unprecedented for an athlete who died in his 40s. "While he had typical cognitive symptoms and problems with impulse control associated with CTE, it also appears that CTE decimated the motor cortex of his brain at a young age, likely leading to his ALS symptoms," she added.

Source: CNN November 03, 2016 15:07 UTC