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There is a connection between traumatic brain injury
and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
We've seen this in observational studies.
People kind of want to know what that link is.
Is it a strong link, or is it just an observational thing?
Can we do this in the laboratory to an animal?
Can we hit a mouse and then show that it develops Alzheimer's?
So, there is a good deal of work trying to establish that link
and find out what it is about the brain injury
that predisposes someone then to neurodegeneration.
And this has really been in the public eye
since several football players who had well-documented concussions,
then died at an early age and donated their brains such that they could be autopsied.
Scientists were able to see that they had signs of Alzheimer's at fairly early ages.
We're talking about 40 years old, 50 years old--
way, way, way before most people develop Alzheimer's.