Too many hits to the head ended fatally for retired NFL linebacker Junior Seau.

On Wednesday, May 2, 2012, Seau was found dead in his home with a gunshot wound to the chest and the suspected weapon lying next to him.  He was found by his girlfriend, and there was not a note left by Seau.  

The internal conflicts Seau was facing is something that the world will never know, but the scientific argument explaining his death suggests brain damage was the leading cause.  

“New research suggests that even small hits to the head may lead to brain deterioration over time,” reports nationalgeographic.com.

It is a possibility that Seau could have had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).  This is a disease that results from repeated concussions and it can produce dementia and other forms of cognitive dysfunction.  But there was no evidence or support that says Seau was suffering from any type of depression or dementia.  

There was also no reported history of Seau having any concussions, but his ex-wife and several other family members stepped forward and said he did sustain concussions during his career but that did not stop him from playing.  

Concussions are considered to be an ‘invisible’ injury.  No MRI or CT scan can detect a concussion or the damage done to the brain because of it.  

In a report done by CNN, it states that Seau’s family is allowing research on Seau’s brain in hopes that it will help NFL players and others in the near future.  The family will possibly donate Seau’s brain to Boston University’s Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which is the same place a number of other athletes brains have been donated for further research.

At North Harford High School, a recent survey of 163 students shows that 62% of students have had at least one concussion or more in their lifetime.  

“I got back up and kept playing but after a while I got dizzy and nauseous and everything got blurry,” said junior Morgan Knox, on her concussion.

The only way Seau could be diagnosed with CTE is if his brain tissues are examined for dementia like symptoms.