From WWE Star to Brain Advocate: The Truth About CTE & Head Injuries

What if it’s not the concussions, but the unnoticed hits to the head that cause the most damage?In this episode of Conversations with Intent, host Arden O’Connor speaks with Dr. Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Harvard graduate, and former WWE star. After suffering multiple head injuries in football and wrestling, Dr. Nowinski was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and became a leading voice in the fight to protect brain health.He discusses the often-misunderstood condition Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and explains how subclinical brain trauma—impacts that don’t cause immediate symptoms—can accumulate and lead to long-term cognitive damage. Dr. Nowinski also reflects on the tough decisions families face when kids play high-risk sports like football, hockey, and soccer, and advocates for youth safety in athletics.Listeners will learn how to recognize early signs of concussion or CTE, the importance of brain health education, and the hope offered by emerging technologies for diagnosis and recovery.Topics Covered:What causes CTE and how it differs from concussionsDr. Nowinski’s journey from WWE to brain health advocacyThe dangers of subclinical traumatic brain injuryHow parents can make informed decisions about youth sportsStrategies to talk to a loved one about concussion risksPromising new tools for diagnosing and treating CTEResources & Links:Intent Clinical: https://intentclinical.comEmail: [email protected]: https://www.instagram.com/intentclinicalFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/intentclinicalLinkedIn (Intent Clinical): https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentclinicalArden O’Connor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arden-o-connor-87715b/Concussion Legacy Foundation: https://concussionfoundation.org