Following Smith's death, his family announced that they had agreed to donate his brain for examination as part of CTE research. The decision does not indicate that Smith had been diagnosed with CTE during his lifetime or that the disease contributed to his death. Researchers believe repeated head impacts trigger abnormal accumulations of tau protein in the brain, which may gradually damage nerve cells over time. Not everyone exposed to repeated head injuries develops CTE, and scientists continue to study why some individuals appear to be more susceptible than others. For the broader public, Smith's case underscores the importance of continued investment in research on CTE and other neurodegenerative conditions linked to repetitive head trauma.