Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the term used to describe brain degeneration likely caused by repeated head traumas. CTE is a diagnosis only made at autopsy by studying sections of the brain.
CTE is a very rare condition. It has been found in the brains of people who played contact sports, such as football, as well as others. Some symptoms of CTE are thought to include difficulties with thinking (cognition), physical problems, emotions and other behaviors.
CTE is a very controversial condition that is still not well-understood. Researchers do not yet know the frequency of CTE in the population and do not understand the causes. There is no cure for CTE.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Some of the possible signs and symptoms of CTE may include:
Other suspected symptoms may include:
The full list of symptoms of people with CTE at autopsy is still unknown. It is unclear what kind of symptoms, if any, it may cause. Little is known right now about how CTE progresses.
CTE is thought to develop over many years after repeated brain injuries (mild or severe). However, see your doctor in case of the following:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Repetitive head trauma is likely the cause of CTE. Football players have been the focus of most CTE studies.
However, athletes participating in other sports, including soccer, ice hockey, rugby, boxing, wrestling, basketball, field hockey, cheerleading, volleyball and lacrosse, may experience repeated head impacts and also have high rates of concussion.
CTE has also been found in people who repeatedly bang their heads, people who have been physically abused, and those with epilepsy that has not been well-controlled. Blast injuries to military personnel also can result in CTE.
However, not all athletes and not everyone who experiences repeated concussions, including military personnel, go on to develop CTE. Some studies have shown no increased incidence of CTE in people exposed to repeated head injuries.
CTE is thought to cause areas of the brain to waste away (atrophy). Injuries to the section of nerve cells that conduct electrical impulses affect communication between cells.
It's possible that people with CTE may show signs of another neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) â also known as Lou Gehrig's disease â Parkinson's disease or frontotemporal lobar degeneration â also known as frontotemporal dementia.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
There is currently no reliable way to diagnose CTE. A diagnosis requires evidence of degeneration of brain tissue and deposits of tau and other proteins in the brain that can be seen only upon inspection after death (autopsy). Some researchers are actively trying to find a test for CTE that can be used while people are alive. Others continue to study the brains of deceased individuals who may have had CTE, such as football players.
Eventually, the hope is to use a range of neuropsychological tests, brain imaging and biomarkers to diagnose CTE. In particular, imaging of amyloid and tau proteins will aid in diagnosis.
Your doctor will check your neurological health by testing your:
Brain-imaging technology is currently used to diagnose mild traumatic brain injury. Some of the following technologies might be used for CTE diagnosis in the future.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI uses a strong magnetic field to detail brain images. Researchers believe that as the following specialized MRI tests improve, they may be able to help diagnose CTE.
Positron emission tomography (PET). A PET scan uses a low-level radioactive tracer that is injected in a vein. Then, a scanner tracks the tracer's flow through the brain. Researchers are actively working to develop PET markers to detect tau abnormalities associated with neurodegenerative disease.
The goal is to develop a marker to identify the tau pathology of CTE in people who are living.
Researchers are using various substances that bind to tau and other proteins on PET scans. These PET scans are in the research phase and not available for clinical testing.
Event-related potentials (ERPs) and quantitative EEG. These noninvasive tests use electroencephalography (EEG), in which a mesh cap covered with electrodes is placed on a person's head. It allows doctors to detect, record and analyze brain waves, which may find brain changes that result from multiple traumatic brain injuries.
Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT). SPECT is an imaging test used to diagnose types of dementia. Studies are needed to show whether SPECT can tell CTE from Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative diseases.
There's been little research on plasma or cerebral spinal fluid to diagnose the long-term disease processes of CTE. Some biomarkers that are used in Alzheimer's disease research may be useful for CTE because the conditions are similar. These biomarkers would need to identify brain degeneration from CTE separately from the original brain trauma.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
There is no treatment for CTE. But CTE may be prevented because it is associated with recurrent concussions. Individuals who have had one concussion are more likely to have another head injury. The current recommendation to prevent CTE is to reduce mild traumatic brain injuries and prevent additional injury after a concussion.
The following equipment can help reduce head injury:
Coaches and players need to understand current guidelines for sports-related injuries. It's difficult to evaluate concussion during play, and coaches and players should be cautious and keep injured athletes out of the game.
The following signs and symptoms of concussion may be visible to coaches or to the athlete.
Danger signals:
Signs of concussion someone might observe in another person:
Symptoms of concussion someone might notice themselves:
If you suspect a concussion in yourself or someone else, follow the four-step action plan:
Follow the gradual five-step plan to return to play:
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
Repeated exposure to traumatic brain injury is thought to increase the risk of CTE, but experts are still learning about the risk factors.
Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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