Following an autopsy, it was determined that a “chronic alcohol use” was the cause of death for the former NFL player’s death.
Earlier this week, following the release of the Hillsboro County Medical Examiner’s report, it was discovered that Jackson’s death in February was deemed “natural,” with the cause of death being judged to be “chronic alcohol use.”
According to officials at the time of his death, he was discovered dead in a hotel room in Brandon, Florida, on February 15, with no visible signs of trauma, according to authorities at the time of his death. It was just a week before his abduction that his family reported him missing, according to a report by CNN.
“Vincent Jackson was a brilliant, disciplined, and compassionate giant whose life began to change when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in his mid-30s. He died in his early 40s. As a result of his experiences, he suffered from despair, as well as gradual memory loss, problem-solving problems, paranoia, and, finally, acute social isolation.” On the matter, Dr. Ann McKee, head of neuropathology for the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System and director of the BU CTE Center as well as the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, shared her insights with us.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, is a progressive degenerative brain disorder caused by repeated head traumas. It is believed that stage 2 CTE is associated with behavioural symptoms such as aggression, impulsivity, sadness, anxiety and paranoia as well as drug abuse and suicidal thoughts, according to the CTE Foundation. Stage 2 CTE is also associated with worsening cognitive deficits, according to the CTE Foundation. Only an autopsy can determine whether or not a person has stage 2 CTE.
This post was written with the assistance of many CNN contributors, including Tina Burnside, Homero de la Fuente, and Melissa Alonso.
