Legendary Tennessee Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with dementia. Summitt, 59, will also try to coach this season.
Tennessee women's basketball Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with dementia, but will try to coach this season. The CBSSports.com report says an official announcement is expected to come on Tuesday.
Summitt, 59, is one of the most successful basketball coaches in history, with a 1,071-199 record, eight NCAA championships and two Olympic gold medals (one as a coach and one as a player). No coach at any college level -- men's or women's -- has more wins. She has been a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame since 2000 and has been named NCAA coach of the year seven times.
Dementia is, essentially, an atrophying of the brain, most often found in people over 65. Summitt would have what is called "early onset dementia." It is characterized by the loss of memory, attention, language and problem solving. While the symptoms can be reversible, less than 10 percent of causes can be effectively treated.
For the Tennessee reaction and analysis, check out Rocky Top Talk.
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