New York Jets legend Mark Gastineau reveals he is suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and believes his tough-tackling NFL career is to blame

January 20, 2017

• Mark Gastineau was a defensive line backer with the New York Jets in the 1980s
• He holds the team's all-time record for the greatest number of 'sacks' 
• He admitted he could not believe it when he received the dementia diagnosis 
• He said he was working with young players to save them from the same fate 

Mark Gastineau, pictured, has admitted he is suffering from dementia as a result of his decade-long career in the NFL where he was a defensive line backer for the New York Jets

Gastineau, pictured in 1988, was the all-time sack record holder for the New York Jets

He made the revelations during a 30-minute interview with Pete McCarthy on WOR radio in New York. 

Gastineau is currently working along with USA Football as part of the 'Heads UP Football' campaign to improve player safety, ensuring that equipment is used properly and concussion is quickly identified. 

The former player is the Jets' all-time sacks record holder. 

He said: 'It's disturbing to the point where I want to get out and I want to help other kids and youths coming into the game. There's techniques out there that if I would have had them, I know that I wouldn't have the results that I have now.'  

Gastineau, left, said he is working with football authorities to prevent young players suffering the same fate by concentrating on correct tackling techniques and identifying concussion

I don't want (my health) to overpower or overshadow the 'Heads Up' program, I want it to be a warning to mothers and fathers to be able to put their kids in to safe places to be able to carry on a team sport that I think is going to be way far beneficial to them then if they didn't have that in their lives.' 

He added: 'I am so happy that I went through the times, the trials and things I went through in the NFL. I wouldn't trade them for anything.'

He later told the Daily News:  'When my results came back, I had dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Those were three things that I have. 

'You know, my first reaction was that I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. My second reaction was how can I help other people coming in to the NFL? That's what it's all about.' 

He said he was impressed by the Heads Up campaign and believes it will make a significant difference for future players. 

He said: 'The only reason I would allow my child to play is because of this USAFootball.com. I would not allow my child to play if I did not have this Heads Up Football. There's no way in the world. You cannot expect your child to not be injured if you do not enter this program. If a high school doesn't have this program, there should not be a program.'

Gastineau's ex-wife Lisa Gastineau (right) and daughter Brittny Gastineau (left) are famous for starring in the E! reality series The Gastineau Girls

Gastineau's ex-wife Lisa Gastineau and daughter Brittny Gastineau, who is a childhood friend of Kim Kardashian, are famous for starring in the E! reality series The Gastineau Girls.

He also has a son with actress Brigitte Nielsen. 

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STUDIES SHOW SPORTS INJURIES COULD CAUSE ALZHEIMER'S

by Mia de Graaf, Assistant US Health Editor

Mark Gastineau's revelation comes amid a surge in studies investigating concussions in the National Football League and high school sports.

More and more research is linking low-impact injuries to severe diseases. 

1. CLEAR LINK BETWEEN LOW-IMPACT INJURY AND ALZHEIMER'S

Research published last week confirmed the strongest ever link between sports concussions and Alzheimer's disease. 

Until now, doctors only considered severe traumatic brain injury a key risk factor for developing neurodegenerative diseases.

But the new study by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) has - for the first time - shown even low-impact injuries like concussion could have life-threatening consequences.   

They reached their conclusion by scanning the brains of 160 wounded war veterans after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Using MRI imaging, the researchers measured the thickness of their cerebral cortex in seven regions that have been pegged at the 'ground zero' for Alzheimer's disease.

They also scanned seven control regions - regions that tend not to be affected. 

They found that having a concussion was associated with lower cortical thickness in brain regions that are the first to be affected in Alzheimer's disease.

Lead author, Dr Jasmeet Hayes, said: 'Our results suggest that when combined with genetic factors, concussions may be associated with accelerated cortical thickness and memory decline in Alzheimer's disease relevant areas.' 

2. BRAIN CHANGES IN HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS AFTER JUST ONE SEASON

A study at Wake Forest School of Medicine has been examining the brains of high school football players.

One of the participants is the son of former Minnesota Vikings player Greg DeLong. 

The study published in the journal Radiology found measurable brain changes in teen players after a single season of ball - even without a concussion diagnosis.

Now DeLong is speaking out to say he would have seriously reconsidered his football career if he had known the risks.

'Football's important to us, but there are other things out there that are more important,' DeLong told Good Morning America. 

3. CDC BUILDING DATABASE ON SPORTS-RELATED CONCUSSIONS

The CDC has estimated that up to 3.8 million concussions occur in sports and recreational activities each year.

But some experts wonder if those numbers underestimate total brain injuries, as some individuals may not seek treatment for mild or moderate symptoms.

The agency has applied for federal funding to create a database in order to investigate sport injuries and brain diseases more in-depth. 

Meanwhile, the state of Texas has embarked on the largest ever study into concussions. 

State officials hope to track brain injuries among high school sports to discover whether more needs to be done to improve player safety and protect athletes.

The University Interscholastic League, Texas' governing body for public high school sports, is partnering with the O'Donnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center for the project.

A state as large as Texas, which has more than 800,000 public high school athletes, would be a key step in developing a national database of brain injuries in youths, officials say. 

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