Canadian wrestling star Chris Benoit's brain resembled that of an 85-year-old man with dementia when he killed himself and his family last summer, according to a documentary that will air on the CBC's The Fifth Estate Wednesday.

Benoit and his family were found dead in their Atlanta home in June, prompting speculation that he killed his wife and son during an episode of steroid-induced rage.

Chris Benoit and his family were found dead on June 25, 2007, at their Atlanta-area home.
(Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

But doctors interviewed by the CBC blamed the repeated concussions they said reduced Benoit's mental capacity to the point that he couldn't be held responsible for his actions.

The new findings are derived from research conducted after former NFLers Andre Waters and Terry Long both committed suicide.

The new documentary investigates the premature deaths of Benoit and several other pro wrestlers.

Benoit was born in Montreal, grew up in Edmonton, and became World Wrestling Entertainment's world champion in 2004.

With files from the Canadian Press