Duerson's death ruled a suicide; requested his brain be studied

The Miami-Dade County medical examiner has ruled former Bears safety Dave Duerson's death late Thursday a suicide.

Duerson died of a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the examiner.

Before he died, Duerson sent a text message to loved ones requesting that his brain be used for NFL research.

Chris Nowinski, co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University School of Medicine, received a call from a friend of the Duerson family and has made arrangements to have the brain prepped for research and sent to Boston.

Nowinski said his research of Duerson's brain will take 3-6 months to determine the presence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), or what used to be known as "punch drunk."

Source: http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/02/19/duersons-death-ruled-a-suicide-requested-his-brain

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