The Facts
What is CTE
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a serious, sometimes fatal type of degenerative brain disease that is typically associated with repetitive head injuries. These repetitive head injuries are often seen in Football, Boxing, Soccer, Ice Hockey, etc. However, it can also result from freak accidents, often seen with motorized vehicles (Rensch 2018).
CTE is characterized by the buildup of an abnormal protein called tau in the brain. This accumulation of tau is what leads to the progressive, sometimes rapid deterioration of brain tissue. The symptoms of CTE vary widely but usually present as certain scenarios of sadness, suicidal thoughts, depression, memory loss, aggression, outbursts, and even some are misdiagnosed with dementia later in life (Fesharaki-Zadeh 2022).
These symptoms have the ability to present itself at any point during an individual's life, whether that be years or decades post initial head trauma. Overall making it difficult to diagnose in its early stages. It is believed that the repeated blows to the head can cause a cascade of events that result in the development of CTE.
Physiology
The physiology of CTE dives deep into the specific factors, biomarkers, cells, and chemistry behind what leads to the development of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in those who have been exposed to multiple head impacts within their sport.
Using Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to detect the specific biomarkers seen with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
Neuropathological features of CTE in a sample of 202 deceased NFL players
Repetitive head impact exposure and its relation to CTE in American football players
How Biomechanics plays a role in the biology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Knowledge
With CTE not being a well known disease it is critical to advance the knowledge of the public on what exactly causes the development of the degenerative brain disease. Sadly, it may be a more common disease than one may think.
Repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries linking evidence back to progressive tauopathy and CTE
How you could be at risk for CTE the more years you are exposed to physical head impacts within your sport
Concussion management when looking at children versus adults
Awareness
Being aware of the specific signs, symptoms and behavioral tendencies associated with CTE can lead us in the direction to make a positive change in the world of contact sports like Football.
How you can help detect the signs and symptoms of CTE during life
Narrowing down the neuropsychiatric symptoms of CTE when comparing other behavioral disorders
Why parents and loved ones should be concerned about their child developing CTE
Epidemiology
Studying the incidence, patterns and determinants of CTE using specific target populations in order to help the public understand how this disease can arise and who is most susceptible to it.
Dose response effects seen with sport exposure to head impacts and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Linking retired athletes to their history of concussions in their sport using various cognitive tests
Looking at high school rugby players through a baseline concussion assessment pre and post season