Bennet Omalu es un exitoso médico, patólogo forense y epidemiólogo nigeriano/estadounidense de 51 años que realiza autopsias, con todas las precauciones que indica el protocolo, a cadáveres de pacientes que padecieron coronavirus​. "Las hacemos con los cuidados universales extremos. Nos vestimos con una máscara facial muy potente, un protector para el rostro y ropa especial para todo el cuerpo. Nuestra suposición es que el virus puede transmitirse a través de fluidos corporales en la autopsia. No sabemos cuánto tiempo sobrevive en el cuerpo humano", le cuenta a Clarín desde Estados Unidos.

Your story can be one more than so many professionals who perform that task in full pandemic.But Omalu is not any doctor.He is nothing less than the man who changed the history of American football in the United States.The person responsible for scientifically and publicly demonstrating the serious sequels suffered by the players of the National Football League (NFL) for the recurring blows to the head that this sport occurs.Not for nothing his story was taken to the cinema with the original "Concussion" name.

Omalu's life, played by Will Smith in the film that resulted in "the hidden truth", changed the day when the coroner had to perform the autopsy to Mike Webster, one of the best players in the history of footballAmerican, absolute idol of Pittsburgh Steelers.

They analyze the headers for the danger of suffering neurodegenerative diseases

"Iron Mike" won four Super Bowl rings and became one of the most beloved characters in the city.Thanks to his performance on the playing field, he won a place in the Hall of Fame.But when he retired from him he began his ordeal: he left his house and began to experience tremendous headaches.His was tragic, with amnesia, dementia and depression.At 50, he died on September 24, 2002.

In principle, the cause of his death had been diagnosed as a "cardiac arrest."Thus I arrived at the hands of Omalu, who did not keep.He wondered how it was possible that a healthy and young person, without visible injuries in the brain, would have ended that way.

Then he began his thorough, independent and self -financed research, until he discovered a pathology that many other NFL players and former players would manifest: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE, the acronym in English of Chronic Traumatic Encaphalopathy).

The Nigerian suspected that Webster suffered from pugilistic dementia, a disease that is induced by strong repeated impacts in the head and suffering from boxers.After analyzing the studies, the pathologist concluded that, throughout his career, Webster had received shots on the head similar to 25 thousand slight traffic accidents.

Utilizando una técnica especializada de tinción, que mejora el contraste en la imagen vista con el microscopio, Omalu identificó una acumulación excesiva de proteína Tau en el cerebro de Webster, que afectaba el estado de ánimo, las emociones y las funciones ejecutivas, de forma parecida a aquella en la que las acumulaciones de la proteína beta-amiloide contribuyen a la enfermedad de Alzheimer​.​ En ese momento, descubrió la existencia de la CTE, a la cual le dio el nombre.

In 2005, the neuropathologist went to GQ magazine, which published his discovery.And the worst came.The NFL pursued him and threatened to "repent" of his finding.From the league they saw him as a threat to his millionaire business.

"I have received threats, intimidation and shaking of sports leagues and their lawyers, doctors, representatives, supporters and fans, including NFL, WWE, NHL, NCAA and even a rugby league in Europe. One thing they do not understand is that this is that thisIt has never tried me and it will never be me. I am insignificant in this. They are fighting a battle with the truth. I am only a messenger of truth. This is a mistake they are making. This has never been about me.Truth is the truth. There is no alternative truth and the truth does not have a side or perspective. The truth will always prevail, "Omelu tells Clarín, when answering the questions sent by email.

The intimidations did not stop Bennet, who set up his own laboratory at his home, where he examined brains from different former NFL players who had died "for no reason" at a premature age.Others had committed suicide after listening to voices in their head.

​Omalu investigated Terry Long's gray matter, André Waters, Tom Mchale, Junior Seau and Justin Strzelczyk, among others.All with the same brain injuries, which can only be detected after death.The data were clear: the pathologist was right and the players were not even sure with the helmet.

In 2006, Bennet returned to the load and republished his investigation with the relevant updates.He was discredited again by the NFL, which at that point already had it between eyebrow and eyebrow.He today resides in the state of California with his wife and his three children, he is a medical researcher of the San Joaquin County and continues to regret the day he met Webster's body.

"I came to America simply to be myself and become the best version of myself, to live a simple life, worship my God and die of simple death. That was my goal. Mike Webster stole the aspirations of my life. NeverI wanted to be known by anyone or become a widely known figure. The CTE placed me in the center of attention. And you know what that did to me? He exposed me to the evil of man, to pathological envy, jealousy and racismBacked, "Omelu replies from the United States.

"People simply attacked me to belittle myself, degrade and marginalize me for doing a good and disruptive job to advance humanity. I didn't know that human beings could be so evil and petty. I don't need any of that. I don't want to fame or fortune; all I want is tranquility, joy and glorious happiness. I am not in this world to inherit the world or live up to anyone's expectations. Everyone should live their life. Let me live, talk and tell my truth, "he remarksin one of the many responses to Clarín.

The devastating result of a study to the brains of football players

In 2009, the NFL first recognized the relationship between the blows to the head and the CTE.But in 2011 there was an unavoidable turning point.Dave Duerson, an American football star, committed suicide in his department after shooting in the chest.He left a handwritten note with a clear message: "Make my brain go to the NFL study center."

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Until these days, almost 5,000 players and former players sued NFL for hiding the consequences of practicing that sport.That is why less and fewer people play it."The epidemiological trend indicates that there is a progressively decreasing participation in collision sports at the youth level throughout the United States. Smart children no longer play football (American). Educated and enlightened elite parents do not allow their children to play football(American) or other types of collision sports, "says Omalu.

-What percentage of American football players end with the CTE?

-The problem is currently no longer about the CTE. Science has evolved away from the CTE. However, it has helped us better understand the science of traumatic brain injury (LCT) and move forward. Each LCT is permanent and causes brain damage. Each soccer player suffers repetitive blows of brain subconmocy and brain shock in the head, which cause subconsciousness and brain shocks, which are types of brain damage, which over time can lead to progressive processes of neurodegeneration and dementias, including CTE. So, the answer to his question is that each soccer player suffers some degree of brain damage, sometimes even after a season. There is no insurance violent blow for human head and brain. And, as Hippocrates said, don't hurt. So, please, let's not become obsessed with the CTE, but let's focus on the LCT. No human being must participate in any activity in which there are intentional violent blows in the head.

-What would you ever ask you for help?​

-​Sí, muchos jugadores amateurs y profesionales y sus familias se comunican conmigo regularmente para ayudarlos. Pero no hay nada que ningún médico pueda hacer por ellos. Una vez que ha sufrido daño cerebral no se puede revertir ni curar.

-​¿Cree que la NFL podría hacer más hoy para disminuir el número de casos?​

​​-We don't do this about the NFL.The NFL is a corporation that provides entertainment service through sport.The objective of each corporation is to earn as much money as possible.There is nothing wrong with that and I support them.The NFL does not force anyone or point with a gun to anyone to play football.

To the big screen

​"The hidden truth" (in English, Concussion) premiered on December 25, 2015. The film written and directed by Peter Landesman, and starring Smith, star of Hollywood, was based on the book by Jeanne Marie Laskas of identical name.

It was an extension of the writer of the article he published in 2009 in the magazine GQ (the same that first disseminated the discovery of Bennet), under the name of Game Brain.The feature film ended seventh at the box office, earning 10.5 million dollars.

The story was reflected greatly."The film was phenomenal. Smith did a phenomenal job. The director and screenwriter made magic. I loved the movie and I have seen it more than 100 times with my family. He portrayed what happened in my life extremely well. Each scene in that movieIt happened in real life, "omalu acknowledges.

At the end of it, it is shown that Dr. Omalu was offered a position at the White House and he did not accept it.Many spectators kept the doubt.Why didn't he do it?

"I would have placed myself in a pedestal that would have made me more vulnerable to an odious world, to the detractors and those who do not love me, especially the always powerful sports leagues. My wife believed that they wanted to get up, expose, dishonor, embarrass, ridicule andsay goodbye. I would have committed and stole my pedestal to tell the truth to power. God gave me wisdom to see that, "he details from a mystical and very religious perspective.

"As they say, pride goes before a fall. Not everything that shines is gold. The most important thing is that I did not want to look for fame or fortune. I wanted to live a simple and cheerful life," he says. "Then, go to Washington dc meI would have even more stolen the small life that Mike Webster left for me. "

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