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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a condition of the brain caused by repeated blows to the head or multiple concussion. The Boston University CTE Center has thoroughly studied the disease and released a large amount of information on the details of the condition. Due to the nature of how this condition is perceived, it is common among athletes playing contact sports such as soccer, hockey, and boxing, as well as military veterans. CTE has become a major debate and problem, especially in the NFL. According to the Boston University CTE Center, researchers found CTE in 99% of former NFL players in a 2017 survey.
How deadly is CTE?
There is no cure for CTE itself, but many of the individual symptoms that CTE causes can be treated. The disease causes degeneration of brain tissue, which is irreversible.
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What does CTE cause?
According to the CTE Research Center at Boston University, repeated trauma to the brain causes degeneration of brain tissue. This includes an increase in the amount of tau, an abnormal protein. These changes are not rapid, but occur over time after trauma to the brain. This degeneration parallels common CTE symptoms such as aggression, depression, increased confusion, memory loss, and Parkinson’s disease (a symptom of Parkinson’s disease).
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What are the most common symptoms of CTE?
CTE begins gradually with repeated head strikes or repeated concussion diagnoses over time. The most common symptoms include memory loss, mood changes, increased confusion, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, parkinsonism, aggression, and difficulty thinking. If an individual suffers a head injury, that does not mean they will continue to develop CTE, but evidence suggests that repeated injuries increase the risk of developing that condition. CTE is common among athletes who play high-contact sports.
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Is CTE reversible?
CTE is irreversible, but some of the symptoms that result from this condition, such as depression and anxiety, can be treated on your own. This condition is still highly studied because there is no known cure. Diagnosis is difficult because the only way to be truly diagnosed is by brain tissue analysis, where doctors look for signs of degeneration of brain tissue. This cannot be done until after death. MRI, CT, or other brain scans cannot tell if someone has CTE, but are usually suspected by the individual’s symptoms and history of head trauma.