Masters of Trial Law Hosts Bill Gibbs and Ken Lumb tackle Concussions and CTE in Ep. 6 of Podcast
In Episode 6 of Corboy & Demetrio’s video podcast, Masters of Trial Law, Hosts Bill Gibbs and Ken Lumb examine the public health epidemic of concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Bill, who launched Corboy & Demetrio’s national sports liability practice, has represented more than 100 retired athletes and families of deceased athletes in lawsuits relating to brain injuries. Ken, who served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps, advocates for military families, including those harmed in the line of duty. Bill and Ken are joined by Dr. William Flavin, an Assistant Professor of Neurology at UCLA who has specialized training in sports neurology and neurodegenerative disease.
Watch Full Podcast on YouTube here
The conversation blends medical science, personal experience, and real-world examples from athletics and military service to explain what is currently understood about CTE, how it develops, how concussions should be treated, and where research is headed. Bill, Ken and Dr. Flavin are all graduates of the University of Notre Dame, with Bill and Dr. Flavin both having played on Notre Dame’s football team as walk-ons. Both are participating in the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Race to End CTE, both running on ND’s team.
In fact, it was the CTE death of a teammate of Dr. Flavin that brought him together with the crucial work of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, formerly called Concussion Legacy Foundation. In the episode, Dr. Flavin explains that neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and CTE involve the progressive loss of neurons, which can affect cognition, mood, behavior, and motor function.
While Alzheimer’s is the most widely recognized, CTE has gained attention because of its association with repeated head trauma and athletes, he explains. Dr. Flavin shares with podcast viewers that CTE is recognized as a distinct disease, separate from Alzheimer’s. The definitive diagnosis of CTE still requires post-mortem neuropathological examination of brain tissue, which remains the gold standard.
Much of the foundational work identifying these changes has come from researchers at Boston University, particularly Dr. Ann McKee. Because diagnosis can occur only after death, many families are unaware that brain donation is possible, and that it can provide clarity, closure, and valuable contributions to research, according to Flavin. A major portion of the discussion focuses on causes of CTE. While the exact mechanisms are still being studied, the strongest and most consistent risk factor identified is repetitive head impact exposure over time, according to Flavin. This includes not only diagnosed concussions but also repeated sub concussive impacts that may not cause immediate symptoms.
Football players have been studied most extensively, but boxers, hockey players, soccer players, and military service members are also at risk, according to Dr. Flavin, who explains that research shows that years of exposure appear to be more important than the number of concussions alone.
The episode also explores military-related brain injury, noting that service members may experience repetitive brain trauma through blast overpressure, weapons fire, aircraft operations, and training activities. These exposures may resemble the cumulative impacts seen in contact sports. Measuring exposure through devices such as accelerometers and conducting long-term observational studies are critical steps toward understanding military-related risk.
Dr. Flavin shares a personal perspective by discussing former Notre Dame teammate Taylor Dever, whose brain was found to show CTE after his death. The hosts and Dr. Flavin stress that experiencing symptoms does not mean a person’s life is over. Many symptoms attributed to CTE may be treatable conditions such as depression, migraines, or sleep disorders. Seeking medical care and using resources like the Concussion & CTE Foundation Helpline can significantly improve quality of life. Importantly, most people recover fully from concussions, and having one, or even several, does not mean someone will develop CTE.
Please note: The views expressed by Dr. Flavin are his own and do not represent the views of his employer, the University of California Los Angeles.
Resources:
Concussion & CTE Foundation Help Line: https://concussionandcte.org/helpline/
Chase Green’s Race to End CTE Fundraising Page: https://give.concussionandcte.org/fundraiser/7003999 Race to End CTE
Corboy & Demetrio Media Contact: Helen Lucaitis, HHL@corboydemetrio.com, 312-346-3191 (office), or 312-550-2077 (cell)