did lou gehrig really die of lou f loug's disease. ig's s his death caused by concussions he got from co baseballaseball, the same type letes every that are still r report. by baseball players and other athletes every day? john donvan has our report. >> reporter: als, the incurable disease that kills by killing off the nerves. it is actually quite rare. but then, so are heroes. luck >> today, i consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. >> reporter: and so, when it took his life, it also took his ame. lou gehrig's disease. name. easier to say than amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. but the new study published today adds to the question of had er gehrig actually had something else, something that playefrom this. games that expose players to one of thethe head. hich, one of the studies ny ofrs says, can create many of the same symptoms seen in als. >> what we're looking at is a brand new disease that seems to e associated with repetitive head trauma. players, bothin fact, two now deceased football players, both w condity dia

lou gehrig, turns out, may not have died from lou gehrig's disease. a new study finds that some patients with past brain trauma who appear to have als otherwise np as l known as lou gehrig's may not have the disorder. they've discovered a link between a condition that resembles als. after examining 12 patients, the researchers determined that several patients diagnosed with lou gehrigehrig's actually had . >> what this paper actually articulates is that if you have repeat concussions over the course of your career, you have a greater likelihood of proteins being expressed that are the signature of cell death. >> researchers say it's important to distinguish between the diseases because they progress differently and respond to different therapies. >>> let's switch gears for a moment and give you a little good news. many californians say that that dreaded trip to the dmv isn't quite as bad as it used to be. but nbc bay area's garvin thomas doesn't spent more than a minute there han he has to. and get this. neither do you. >> now serving 3353. >>> the ga

or lou gehrig's disease on august 6. he was 62 years old, although in some places he was known for his controversial views on. he authored 13 books for which he became a pulitzer prize finalist post-war a history of europe since 1945. last year, judt was awarded the george orwell prize for intelligence, insight and conspicuous courage. over the years he was a great friend of this program as a guest and a guest host. in september of 2008 tony jt was diagnosed with a.l.s. it is an affliction that he described as progressive imprisonment without parole. over the past 18 months, he dictated dozens of essays and on edz, wrote two books and delivered from memory his last lecture to an auditorium of n.y.u. students. his words that night were recently turned into his last book. it is a petition for the future, a rallying cry for renewing social democracy. as his illness took its toll, tony lost the ability to walk, to type, d speaking became a struggle. three weeks ago, eight days before he died, i visited tony at his home in gr

i can ride 300 miles. >> reporter: the two are raising money to fight als, also known as lou gehrig's disease in honor of carla zilbersmith. >> she never shied away from anything. this is a big thing to ride 100 miles. , a ls is a lot harder than riding 100 miles. we want to do it in honor of her. >> reporter: she first revealed her diagnosis to a live audience in 2008. >> i was diagnosed with lou gehrig's disease, which sucks because i hate baseball. [ laughter ] >> reporter: we this year her earlier this year when she was launching an als fundraising effort am her own, convincing fellow als patients to pose for this movie themed calendar. >> they need lots of money for research. >> reporter: she lost her battle with als in may. >> there is two hills, but nothing too drastic. >> reporter: that's when jennifer and alexa, who had been her care giver, decided to create team carla, along with two friends that will attempt to complete the ride to defeat als which winds through the napa valley in september. it's the largest fund-raiser of its kind in northern california and team carla alre

. >>> lou gehrig may not have died from lou gehrig's disease. some patients with past brain drama may have another disorder altogether. researchers discovered a link between head injuries like concussions and chronic traumatic enreceivology. the researchers determined that several patients diagnosed with lou gehrig's actually had cte. >> what this paper actually articulates is that if you have repeat concussions over the course of your career, you have a greater likelihood of proteins being expressed that are the signature of cell death. >> researchers say it is important to distinguish between the diseases, because they progress differently and respond to different kinds of therapies. >>> time is now 4:49. time to get a check with the weather. craig is here with the still-cool forecast. >> there's not a whole lot of change going on, garvin and kris, with the satellite. a number of storms that keep coming over the northern half of the state and keeping us on the cool side. they are giving us a lot of the fog and cooler conditions. 50s and 60s th

yankee's lou gehrig put a name on lou gehrig's disease. why parents need to pay special attention to this study. >> reporter: if anyone told matt nelson he'd still be recovering from a concussion months after it happened, he would never believe it. >> i thought maybe one, maybe two weeks at the most. >> reporter: but the concussion left a long-term problem. >> it's been a roller coaster. just about a month ago they put me on medication for my head. 90 days straight with a headache can be pretty tough. >> reporter: now scientists have connected head injuries possibly to lou gehrig's disease. the doctor, a traumatic brain expert at ucla, explains how it might happen. >> what this paper actually articulates is that if you have repeat concussions over the course of your career, you have a greater likelihood of proteins being expressed that are the signature of celda. >> reporter: a man later died of lou gehrig's disease, the same proteins found in the brains of athletes with chronic traumatic enself fa lop pa three that causes thinking problem

lou gehrig may not have died from lou gehrig's disease. a new study finds some patients with past brain trauma who appear to have als, otherwise known as lou gehrig's the disease, may have had another disorder altogether. researchers at boston university discovered a link between head injuries like concussions and chronic traumatic enself-y. several parents who were diagnosed lou gehrig's actually had cte. >> what this indicates is that if you have repeat concussions over the course of your career, you have a greater likelihood of proteins being expressed that are the signature of cell death. >> researchers say it's important to distinguish between the diseases because they progress differently and respond to different therapies. >>> it is 5:20 now. time to check in with mike and a cig alert in the south bay. >> this developed pretty significantly over the last ten minutes. we had an earlier report of an accident just a few minutes before my last report. no major details came back to my desk, and now we have southbound 880. original direct

., also known as lou gehrig's disease. both of these diseases are tragically common stroke is the leading cause of death in the united states. but for those who survive, the brain'splastyty shows remarkable recovery. despite decades of research, a.l.s. is 1200% fatal. joining me this evening is a remarkable group of scientists who have devoted their careers and their lives to understanding hui the brain controls movement. they are thomas jess is, he studies circuits that forms the basis for the entire motor system. he is a howard hughes medical investigator. daniel wolpert, his research uses mechanical models that mimic human behavior. he heads the wolpert lab at cambridge university in england. john krakauer, he is interested in how the brains learns new skills and how it can regain function even after stroke or injury. he is an associate professor of neurology and neuroscience at columbia university. robert brown, he is a geneticist physician and all around expert on lou gehrig's disease. he teaches and practices at the

or lou gehrig's disease. the players that were initially diagnosed with a.l.s., were skauzed by repet sieve head drama. >>> now, to the health benefits of dark chocolate. a new study confirms that eating a little of the chocolate regularly can protect women against heart disease. here's dr. tim johnson with details. >> reporter: dark chocolate might win over a woman's heart . a new study found that middle and older age swedish women who regularly ate a small amount of anti-oxidant-rich chocolate, had lower heart failure. women who ate an average of one to two serves of dark chocolate per week, have a 32% lower risk of heart failure. and those that had one to three servings per month, had a 26% lower risk. but the women who ate chak lat daily, did not get any additional benefits. probably from the calories of chocolate. the results followed several other studies that showed ingredients in dark chocolate help to relax artery walls. researchers warn people not to go overboard in their chocolate intake, especiall

or lou gehrig's disease. one of the study's main subjects was ericing so begins who played football at u.s.c. and briefly in scan francisco with the 49ers before he died last year. >> every day activity. >> reporter: skoggins was originally diagnosed with a.l.s. and spoke openly about his condition and his foundation to raise money for research and patient support. >> you can be a difference. i chose to be a difference. >> reporter: skoggins donated his brain and spinal cord to the research study upon his death. now that study has found that skoggins did not have a.l.s., thought to be hereditary, but a similar disease caused by head trauma. >> very grateful to-to-him and his family for agreeing to do that. the more patients with neurological diseases are willing to donate their brain and spinal cord for research, that helps us advance our understanding of the disease. >> reporter: today, at the a.l.s. center, the director said the study, while intriguing, is not conclusive. >> i think what would be most valua

did baseball great lou gehrig really have lou gehrig's disease, also known as a.l.s.? a new study in a leading medical journal raises some questions about that. researchers examined the bodies of two football players and a boxer. before they died, they had all been diagnosed with a.l.s., but autopsies found they actually died of a similar disease caused by concussion and other brain injuries. gehrig was once knocked unconscious by a baseball. we'll never know for sure if he had a.l.s., though, his remains were cremated in 1941. we'll be right back. roger's workday. and payload, and now, 9 to 5? try 5 to 9... everyda best-in-class residual value. course, roger would never sell his f-150, even if he had the time. anncr: hurry in now and get a built-ford-tough f-150 with 0% financing for sixty months. mike rowe: remember roger and that f-150? yeah, they're gone. introducing total plus omega-3 honey almond flax cereal. all the nutrition of total, plus 10% daily value omega-3 ala, and a delicious honey almond crunch. new total plus omega-3. and a delicious honey almond crun

a new study found evidence connecting head injuries in athletes to lou gehrig's disease. dr. ann mckee said she found toxic proteins in athletes that had head injuries and later died of lou gehrig's disease. they had disease that caused abnormal behavior and dementia. let's recap our top stories. san francisco police going sofer muni surveillance video to see if they can identify suspects in a stabbing attack on a bus. theresa garcia is live in the sunset district with more. theresa. >> the attack happened on a muni bus but unfolded at that bus stop just behind me. this is a location in the sunset district near the san francisco zoo, usually considered a safer neighborhood but the peace was disrupted last night. it was 7:40 in the evening when a man stabbed a passenger three times in the shoulder and abdomen while riding the 29 sunset bus. the victim got off the bus. he asked to borrow someone's cellphone for help and he was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening stab wounds. the suspect and female campaign had already gotten off. the only suspect description is a ma

. >> athletes who repeatedly suffer head injuries could end up with a condition similar to lou gehrig's disease, so says a new boston university study. it says athlete is previously diagnosed with lou gehrig's disease may have actually had a related syndrome. one of the studies main subjects was eric scog givens, remember him? he briefly played with the san francisco 49ers. >>> a call for help is going out now in the south bay at the los gatos police department. they are forming a victim services unit and they need volunteers. the department is looking for people who have some expertise in the criminal justice system or in grieve counseling. elder, child and sexual abuse advocates are welcome and experts in finance and banking you are being ought. >>> singer wyclef jean is in hiding after reportedly he received some death threats. he is said to be in a secret location in haiti while he awaits from word on whether he is going to be allowed to run for president of haiti. there are questions bought whether he meets the residency requirements. wyclef jean was born outside of port awe prince

. >>> a new study finds that yankees legend lou gehrig may not have had lou gehrig's disease. the baseball hall of famer was diagnosed with aals. lou gehrig was said to have been hit multiple times in his career. he may have had cte, a similar but different illness. he was cremated so scientists say they will never know for sure. >>> it is a whole new version of a wing and a prayer. this is from argentina when overing the weekend a wing on a plane came off in mid air. the pilot was able to deploy the parachute. look at that. on the back of his plane after it happened. the plane eventually just drifted back down to earth. the pilot walked away unhurt. >>> 15 minutes past the hour >> that's your latest weather. >> the era of dr. laura is about to end. she is pulling the plug on her syndicated radio show after having used the "n" word repeatedly during a tirade with an african-american call i. cbs news core elaine quijano has the story. >> i want to regain my first amendment rights. >> reporter: after 30 years conservative radio talk show host dr. laura schlesinger told cnn's lar

you can't cure parkinson, you can't cure multiple scpler row sister, lou gehrig disease, it is hard to figure out where to go with this and it is only very recently that they discovered some real clues that can help this renaissance in drug development where people think they know what to do, what kind of drugs to develop that might actually make a difference. it remains to be seen, but for the first time people are really optimistic, they say we know now what to do to try to fight it early, we can find signs of this disease ten or 20 careers before they ever get it. >> rose: is genetics playing a role in this? >> to a certain extent. if your family members have it, you have a higher risk, but most -- they don't have many, they have a few genes that are absolute predictors you are going to get alzheimer's but it is so rare only a few families have them, for most people, it is kind of like a bolt out of the blue, it is probably genetics but they don't know what the genes are, here is a field that is just sort of moribund and all of a sudden there is this explosion of knowledge and infor