Join host Paul Adepoju on Paul Talks Science as he sits down with Dr. Jesse Mez, neurologist and associate professor at Boston University, to dive into the startling connections between ice hockey, repetitive head impacts, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In this eye-opening conversation, they unpack groundbreaking research from BU’s UNITE Brain Bank, revealing how years of play increase risks of this neurodegenerative disease—and why even non-concussive hits matter.

Discover why elite hockey players aren’t the only ones at risk, how “enforcer” roles factor into the equation, and what policy changes could make contact sports safer. Dr. Mez also shares hope for future diagnostics, treatments, and the importance of openly addressing brain health in athletics.

This episode is based on Paul’s original reporting for Harvard Public Health. Read the full story here: The Hidden Brain Risks of Ice Hockey.

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Keywords: CTE, Ice Hockey, Brain Health, Sports Safety, Neurodegenerative Disease, Concussion, Neurology, Boston University