News
“The Great” DeKosky and Mike Webster’s Brain
In the movie “Concussion” Dr. Steven DeKosky portrayed by actor Eddie Marsan was referred to as “The Great DeKosky” by Dr. Ron Hamilton a Neuropathologist and colleague. DeKosky, a Behavioral Neurologist and Dementia expert was supposed to barely have time for Dr. Bennet Omalu and to look at Mike Webster’s brain. In both real life and the movie DeKosky, a noted expert on Alzheimer’s Disease, saw exactly what Dr. Omalu had seen, a pattern consistent with Dementia Pugilistica in a 50-year old male who had never been a boxer. On the basis of his interest Dr. DeKosky became the second author on the first papers with Dr. Omalu identifying Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE. Both Omalu and DeKosky were made subject to much pressure, presumably from the NFL, to retract their findings and call it all a “big misunderstanding”. Both scientists understood the importance of the findings and were willing to endure the gauntlet of derision built by the NFL.
In an interview with Kristina Fiore of MedPage Today, Dr. DeKosky sets the record straight on his interactions with Dr. Omalu and offered that he would never give a person only 2-3 minutes to present their findings as depicted in the movie. DeKosky referred to himself as “a talker” and from the interview its evident that he was excited with Omalu’s findings and was willing to lend his expertise and support to the research. Clearly, not the cold scientist portrayed in movie, DeKosky’s MedPage interview offers insights into him as a person.
Click here to read DeKosky’s interview and get to know the other member of Omalu’s original research team:
https://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/HeadTrauma/55657?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2016-01-15&eun=g42534d0r
Key words: Steven DeKosky MD, Bennet Omalu MD, Ron Hamilton MD, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, CTE, Mike Webster, Mike Webster’s Brain, brain injury and football, multiple concussions, Dementia Pugilistica, “Concussion”
