Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has emerged as a significant concern in contact sports and for individuals who may have experienced repetitive head injuries. CTE is a neurodegenerative condition that is primarily associated with repeated head trauma or a history of concussions. For now, CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem and when the brain is observed, it shows an accumulation of abnormal tau protein deposits in the brain. These deposits can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain and lead to a range of symptoms that often emerge years or even decades after the initial trauma. Symptoms include mood swings, memory loss, cognitive impairment, and behavioral changes.
Prevention plays a crucial role in mitigating CTE risk. There have been a lot of rule changes in sports that aim to protect the players since we found more information about CTE. It is also important to prevent further damage after sustaining a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion. Wait until you fully recover from the injury until you participate in activities that could put your brain at further risk.
Listed are resources with more information about CTE:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370921
https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/related_conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy
https://concussionfoundation.org/CTE-resources/what-is-CTE
