Former UFC Fighter Thiago Tavares Becomes Doctor, Researches CTE Detection
Former UFC featherweight Thiago Tavares has transitioned into neurology, launching a research project aimed at identifying markers for chronic traumatic encephalopathy in living fighters.
· VILLAND PICK editorial
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight Thiago Tavares has embarked on a new career outside the cage. After retiring from mixed martial arts in 2021 with a 24-11-1 record, the Brazilian used part of his career earnings to attend medical school. Today, Tavares is a practicing physician specializing in neurology and is preparing a master's thesis focused on potential markers of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Speaking to Sherdog, Tavares highlighted the limitations of current medical diagnostics, noting that CTE can presently only be confirmed definitively through post-mortem examinations of brain tissue. To address the absence of reliable markers in living patients, his research project explores whether functional electroencephalography (EEG) brain wave measurements paired with artificial intelligence can help detect indicators of the condition earlier.
To conduct the study, Tavares plans to evaluate 40 former UFC fighters from his era who competed between 2010 and 2017. The participants will wear a specialized helmet designed to record brain wave activity while undergoing assessments of their symptoms.
Tavares expressed deep gratitude toward the sport that funded his medical education. Stating that the UFC provided everything he has in life, Tavares hopes to thank Dana White, Joe Silva, and Sean Shelby in person at an upcoming event in Brazil while using his medical work to protect and support future generations of athletes.
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