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Merril Hoge Searches For CTE Answers With His New Book

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge is on a quest to find answers about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE.

"I asked every neurologist who would sit down with me individually and separately, 'Tell me what CTE is,'" Hoge said. "This is exactly what they would say to me, 'Merril, it's a pattern. We don't know what causes it, and we don't know what it causes."

merril-hoge
(Photo Credit: KDKA)

In his new book, "Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football" Hoge explains how the narrative surrounding CTE and football are off the mark.

Hoge claims that the science on how football correlates with CTE isn't there and that there is no link between football and the brain disease.

Hoge thinks the media's coverage is unfair, as concussions happen in other sports as well, but football is always directly linked to the brain issues on television and online.

The former Steeler sent his book to Ben Roethlisberger to read. The Steelers quarterback thinks that the book gives interesting points that can start important conversations on the matter.

"He wants to open people's eyes," Roethlisberger said. "We should be educated on the truths on CTE, concussions, or whatever it is."

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