Deceased BMX star Dave Mirra had CTE, doctors say

A doctor who examined Dave Mirra's brain has concluded the late BMX star had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Alyssa Roenigk of ESPN The Magazine reports.

The finding has been confirmed by other neuropathologists who examined images of his brain.

Mirra is the first extreme sports athlete diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease, which can only be diagnosed after death. CTE is believed to be linked to depression, memory loss, and dementia.

Several former football and hockey players have also been diagnosed with CTE following their deaths.

Mirra committed suicide in February. He was 41 and had reportedly suffered from depression.

He suffered numerous concussions in his freestyle BMX career. He also fractured his skull when hit by a car as a teenager, and took up boxing late in his sports career.