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What is CTE?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive, degenerative disease that afflicts the brain in people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries.

CTE has been in the forefront lately with widespread media attention as many well-known football players are coming forward in declaration of their personal journey with the condition, and it was recently disclosed that the late Frank Gifford, the former running back of the New York Giants, also suffered from the condition.

People who play a wide variety of sports that involve repeated blows to the head and military personnel who have had blast injuries are at risk for developing CTE.

Thought to be a condition primarily affecting boxers, and often referred to as dementia puglistica, CTE results from traumatic impacts to the cranium. In CTE, certain areas of the brain are particularly predisposed to atrophy, though other areas are susceptible to becoming enlarged.

Over time, the brain gradually deteriorates and loses mass, as well as accumulating tau protein, a substance that serves to stabilize cellular structure in the neurons. These proteins eventually, through the progression of CTE, become defective and cause major interference with the function of the neurons.

CTE progresses in two patterns. In younger people, the condition starts with behavior and mood changes. Older people experience cognitive problems that progress and lead to dementia.

Symptoms of CTE, which usually begin eight to 10 years after repetitive mild traumatic brain injury, include loss of memory, impulsive or erratic behavior, impaired judgment, aggression, depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts or behavior, difficulty with balance and a gradual onset of dementia.

Later, the condition can cause physical problems, similar to ALS. CTE can often be misdiagnosed, as symptoms are similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s. Diagnosis of CTE can only be confirmed through post-mortem examination, but researchers at UCLA have seen positive results in diagnosing the condition in a live subject by identifying the concentration of tau protein in the brain.

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About Mary Weyand 15933 Articles
Mary founded Scoop Tour with an aim to bring relevant and unaltered news to the general public with a specific view point for each story catered by the team. She is a proficient journalist who holds a reputable portfolio with proficiency in content analysis and research. With ample knowledge about the Automobile industry, she also contributes her knowledge for the Automobile section of the website.

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