[h=1]Mark Gastineau Says He's Been Diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Dementia[/h] [h=4]<address class="article_author-info" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"> By
Alec Nathan , Featured Columnist </address> <time class="article_timestamp" itemprop="datePublished" data-updated_at="1484886020">Jan 19, 2017</time>[/h]
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Former New York Jets All-Pro defensive end Mark Gastineau revealed Thursday that he's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and dementia.
In an interview with 710 WOR's
Pete McCarthy (h/t the
New York Post's
Anthony Barstow and Pete Cannizzaro), Gastineau explained he believes the diseases developed because of the physical, smashmouth style of play that he was taught.
"I learned head, stick and hands," Gastineau said. "When we would hit each other, I mean, you heard pops like a shotgun going off. I led with my head. Head, stick and hands. Lead with your head, then you grab, then you decide which way you're going to go. ... But, Pete, it's changed so much."
He also said he hopes to help younger players learn safer tackling techniques that will prevent them from suffering traumatic head injuries.
"When my results came back, you know, I had dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's," Gastineau told McCarthy. "Those were three things that I have, you know, Pete. It's something that I want every player that goes out and plays to be protected in the best way they can be protected."