BU to Study Brain of Former NFL Player Who Killed Himself & 5 People

Boston University, in coordination with the Medical University of South Carolina, to study and analyze the brain of the former NFL player, Phillip Adams, who killed five people and himself last week.

Adams spent six seasons in the NFL and the doctors would like to see if Adams suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) stemming from his playing days, according to a report from Boston.com.

Though typical forensic autopsies don’t identify CTE, the BU CTE Center specializes in conducting long-term research on the effects of repetitive brain trauma in athletes and military personnel, Boston.com reported.

It could possibly be months before BU has any available results for the public on Adams’ link to CTE.

The mission of the CTE center, according to its website, is to “conduct state-of-the-art research on CTE, including its neuropathology and pathogenesis, clinical presentation, genetics, and other risk factors, biomarkers, methods of detection during life, and methods of prevention and treatment.”

Adams, 32, is accused of killing Dr. Robert Lesslie, 70, and his three family members, his wife Barbara Lesslie, 69, and grandchildren Adah Lesslie, 9, and Noah Lesslie, 5, and James Lewis, 38, in South Carolina.

A defensive back from South Carolina State, Adams was selected in the 7th round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, playing two seasons with the Oakland Raiders as well as pit stops in New England, New York Jets, Seattle, and Atlanta. It’s been previously reported that Adams suffered at least two concussions during his time with the Raiders.

To read the full story from Boston.com, click here.