Disgraced ex-Patriots player Aaron Hernandez found to have CTE and early brain atrophy

Five months after Aaron Hernandez hanged himself in a prison cell with a bedsheet while serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, the former New England Patriots tight end has been diagnosed with severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Hernandez, who died at age 27, is one of the youngest former NFL players found to have the devastating disease linked to repeated brain trauma. found 110 of 111 brains of former NFL players studied showed signs of CTE. nathan.fenno@latimes.com Twitter: @nathanfenno UPDATES: 2:58 p.m.: This article was updated with the NFL declining comment and with details of a lawsuit against the league over Hernandez’s death.