The Maine mass shooter who was a U.S. Army Reservist had a traumatic mind damage earlier than he killed 18 individuals and injured greater than a dozen others final yr, in response to Boston University researchers.
The household of Robert Card launched the findings of his mind tissue evaluation via the Concussion Legacy Foundation on Wednesday.
In October, the 40-year-old man went on a rampage in Lewiston — killing 18 individuals and injuring greater than a dozen different victims. He later took his personal life.
The Boston University CTE Center had been inspecting his mind, and lead researcher Ann McKee discovered that Card had vital proof of traumatic mind accidents on the time of the shootings.
There was no proof of CTE (persistent traumatic encephalopathy) — a progressive degenerative illness affecting individuals who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic mind accidents. Many soccer gamers who sustained repetitive head impacts have suffered from CTE.
“Robert Card had evidence of traumatic brain injury,” McKee, director of the BU CTE Center, mentioned in a press release. “In the white matter, the nerve fibers that allow for communication between different areas of the brain, there was significant degeneration, axonal and myelin loss, inflammation, and small blood vessel injury.”
“These findings align with our previous studies on the effects of blast injury in humans and experimental models,” McKee later added. “While I cannot say with certainty that these pathological findings underlie Mr. Card’s behavioral changes in the last 10 months of life, based on our previous work, brain injury likely played a role in his symptoms.”
The household is permitting additional research on Card’s mind to assist with McKee’s analysis.
Card was a U.S. Army Reservist and a longtime teacher at an Army hand grenade coaching vary, the place it’s believed that he was uncovered to 1000’s of low-level blasts.
“We want to begin by saying how deeply sorry and heartbroken we are for all the victims, survivors, and their loved ones, and to everyone in Maine and beyond who was affected and traumatized by this tragedy,” Card’s household mentioned in a press release. “We are hurting for you and with you, and it’s onerous to place into phrases how badly we want we may undo what occurred.
“While we cannot go back, we are releasing the findings of Robert’s brain study with the goal of supporting ongoing efforts to learn from this tragedy to ensure it never happens again,” the household mentioned, later including, “We know it does not fully explain Robert’s actions, nor is it an excuse for the horrific suffering he caused, but we thank Dr. McKee for helping us understand his brain damage and how it may have impacted his mental health and behavior.”
The household added that they wish to elevate consciousness of traumatic mind damage amongst army service members.
“And we encourage more research and support for military service members with traumatic brain injuries,” the household mentioned. “Our hearts remain with the victims, survivors, and their families.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”