Brain of Deceased Marine Who Suffered from PTSD Reveals Degenerative Brain Disease

After struggling to adjust to civilian life upon his return from two tours of duty in Iraq, a 27-year-old former Marine with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) took his own life. Although this story is a common one, the autopsy of this particular young man’s brain has yielded historic results, shedding light on the epidemic of suicides and other troubles faced by veterans of the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Said marine’s brain was physically altered by a disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a degenerative condition that typically affects boxers, football players and other athletes who have endured repeated blows to the head.

For more information, click here to read the full article in The New York Times.