Ann McKee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann McKee
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| Born | 1953 (age 71–72) Appleton, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin–Madison Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine |
| Known for | Study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Neuropathology |
| Institutions | New England Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VISN-1) Boston University |
Ann McKee (born 1953) is a very important doctor who studies the brain. She is a neurologist, which means she treats brain diseases. She is also a neuropathologist, meaning she studies brain diseases by looking at brain tissue.
Dr. McKee works at the VA Boston Medical Center and is a professor at Boston University School of Medicine. She leads the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. She also directs the Boston University CTE Center.
She is famous for her research on Alzheimer's disease. She also studies what happens to the brain after many head injuries. In 2017, she was named "Bostonian of the Year" by The Boston Globe. In 2018, Time magazine called her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
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Ann McKee's Education Journey
Dr. McKee started her education at the University of Wisconsin. There, she earned her first degree. She then went to Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. This is where she earned her medical degree.
After medical school, she trained in neurology at Cleveland Metropolitan General Hospital. She also completed a special program in neuropathology. This training happened at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. McKee's Important Work
Dr. McKee is the main neuropathologist at the VA Boston Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is also the director of the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Plus, she leads the Boston University CTE Center.
She manages several "brain banks." These are places where donated brains are stored for research. Her research mainly focuses on CTE. She also studies the long-term effects of brain injuries.
What is CTE?
Dr. McKee is a top expert on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a serious brain disease that gets worse over time. It is often found in people who have had many head injuries.
CTE is commonly seen in athletes who play contact sports. This includes sports like boxing, American football, and ice hockey. It can also affect military service members.
In 2013, Dr. McKee shared some important findings. She had studied the brains of many athletes. She found signs of CTE in over 70 of them. This included 18 NFL players. It also included three NHL players known as enforcers.
Dr. McKee has shared her discoveries with officials from the National Football League. She has also spoken to the United States House Judiciary Committee. Her work helps people understand the dangers of repeated head injuries.
She has also studied other brain diseases. These include Lewy body disease, Parkinson's disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy. She also researches multiple system atrophy, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and corticobasal degeneration.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. McKee has received many awards for her amazing work. In 2018, the Alzheimer's Association gave her the Henry Wisniewski Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognized her lifelong dedication to research.
In the same year, Time magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People. Chris Borland, a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, spoke about her impact. He retired from football at age 24 due to worries about brain injury. He said Dr. McKee's research helped him make that choice. He stated, "She may have saved my life." He also added that her work has likely saved many former NFL players from suffering.
Ann McKee's Personal Life
Dr. McKee is married and has three children. She also has two grandchildren. She lives in Massachusetts. She is a big fan of the Green Bay Packers football team.
