Former Raider Great Ken Stabler Had Brain Disease CTE

NEW YORK (AP) -- Boston researchers say former Oakland Raiders quarterback Ken Stabler had the brain disease CTE.

Boston University confirmed the diagnosis Wednesday after it was first reported in the New York Times.

Stabler died of colon cancer at 69 in July. According to the Times, Stabler had high Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, known as CTE.

The disease, which can only be diagnosed after death, is linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symptoms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia. CTE has been found in the brains of dozens of former football players.

Dr. Ann McKee, a professor of neurology at Boston University, told the Times "it may be surprising since he was a quarterback, but certainly the lesions were widespread, and they were quite severe, affecting many regions of the brain."