Rob Gronkowski Claims CTE 'Can Be Fixed' in Unexpected Tweet
By Parker White
After doing an interview with CBS News on Thursday where he claimed that he's had 20 concussions during the span of his life, former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski made more news on Friday after tweeting out something that'll make you scratch your head in confusion.
According to Gronk, brain damage sustained by playing football isn't a be all, end all. In fact, he claims, he's reversed his own.
It is fixable. I fixed mine. There are plenty of methods in this world that allow the brain to recover from severe damage. That is also why I would allow my kid to play football. https://t.co/9aI1olAdqP
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) September 13, 2019
I'm not a doctor and don't pretend to play one on TV, but that's insane. Gronk claims that CTE it fixable, and that his is fixed?
The best part of Gronkowski's response is that he's tweeting back-and-forth with Chris Nowinski, the CEO of Concussion Legacy Foundation and co-founder of Boston University's CTE Center.
Yeah, I think he knows a thing or two about this subject.
You are right about brain plasticity, and I am glad you are feeling great today, but neurodegenerative diseases (CTE, Alzheimer's, etc.) cannot be "fixed" or cured today. They eventually win. Please come on over to the BU brain bank next week and we can discuss the nuances.
— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) September 13, 2019
Maybe someday there will be a cure for CTE, but at the moment, its disastrous effects dog those who've been afflicted for decades on end. Gronk may not be feeling any of the effects now, but if the number of concussions he gave is accurate, it's hard to imagine him the effects won't eventually cloud his judgment as he ages.