Did Paterno Die of a Broken Heart?

[TomT]

Originally Posted by ollinger

Very possible, in fact, at least in part. One of the most fascinating areas of psychiatric research is the interplay between T-lymphocyte function (thought to resist the growth of cancers) and depression. Dr. Marvin Stein at Mt. Sinai in the 70s and 80s, his protege Dr. Steven Schleiffer and others thereafter, demonstrated decreased T-lymphocyte function in depressives, with improved lymphocyte function when depression remitted. They demonstrated decreased survival in breast cancer patients who became depressed (carefully controlling for the stage of illness and level of debility, to insure that the more depressed subjects weren't depressed because they had more severe illness than the non-depressives.) Paterno looked very sullen the past few months, and this might have rendered his body less able to ward off the lung cancer.

The day after my grandpa (94) went to an old folks home he died in his sleep. There was, in my mind, definitely some psychological stuff contributing to this.

[usta2050]

Originally Posted by ollinger

Very possible, in fact, at least in part. One of the most fascinating areas of psychiatric research is the interplay between T-lymphocyte function (thought to resist the growth of cancers) and depression. Dr. Marvin Stein at Mt. Sinai in the 70s and 80s, his protege Dr. Steven Schleiffer and others thereafter, demonstrated decreased T-lymphocyte function in depressives, with improved lymphocyte function when depression remitted. They demonstrated decreased survival in breast cancer patients who became depressed (carefully controlling for the stage of illness and level of debility, to insure that the more depressed subjects weren't depressed because they had more severe illness than the non-depressives.) Paterno looked very sullen the past few months, and this might have rendered his body less able to ward off the lung cancer.

it's good that he died before he was put on trial. What kind of man would hide child abuse crimes like that for decades?

[El Diablo]

^^ quite unlikely he would have been tried. Was never charged, and prosecutors don't usually go after people who may have known something (very difficult to prove whether and when someone may have become aware of something) when they have the actual offender. For example, in the John Edwards case, prosecutors don't seem to be going after Rielle Hunter, who obviously might have known about a crime if she was the beneficiary.

[heartman]

Stress kills people all the time. Takes many forms - what an unfortunate, sad end to an otherwise wonderful story.

Victims will carry their pain forever, and I feel for them as well. Thanks goodness public awareness of sexual predators is much greater theses days and monsters such as Jerry Sandusky can be revealed much earlier, and easier. Bet he'll find a spot in hell right next to Jeffrey Dahmer...

[beernutz]

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.

[F L O B B E R]

Can't have any sympathy for a man who would hide/ignore a child sexual predator to protect a FOOTBALL program...