Frank Gifford Suffered From CTE

The family of Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank
Gifford says signs of the degenerative disease chronic traumatic
encephalopathy were found in his brain after his death.

In a statement released through NBC News on Wednesday, the family
says Gifford suffered from unspecified ''cognitive and behavioral
symptoms'' in his later years. He died of natural causes at his
Connecticut home in August at age 84.

His widow, Kathie Lee Gifford, is a host for NBC's ''Today.''

The statement says that the family ''made the difficult decision to
have his brain studied in hopes of contributing to the advancement
of medical research concerning the link between football and
traumatic brain injury.''

CTE can be diagnosed only after death. It has been found in the
brains of dozens of former players.  (Associated Press)