RESOURCES
ABOUT CONCUSSIONS
A concussion is caused by the brain moving (head acceleration) around/inside skull.
- Concussions account for:15%+ of all injuries in popular sports
- 50% of all concussions are not reported
- Many sports do not report because of no reliable tracking metrics
- CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) brain degeneration caused by repeated head traumas (Concussions)
About CTE
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disorder that has possible connections to repetitive head injuries. The challenge in identifying and treating this disorder is that CTE only gets a diagnosis after death with an autopsy of the brain.
While much is still unknown regarding its exact cause, treatment and prevention, CTE has gained attention in the sports world for its potential connection to concussion and repetitive hits to the head. Traumatic brain injuries sustained in contact sports, domestic violence or other circumstances seem to be associated with CTE.
Here’s what you need to know about the risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options and research about this brain disorder.
Risk Factors
Researchers are still not clear on the exact relationship between head injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. While individuals who develop CTE have sustained multiple head impacts, the exact connection is unknown. There appears to be a link between CTE and repetitive trauma, rather than a single incident. But researchers don’t know the number of head injuries that increase the chance of CTE or whether it matters how close in time or over what time period they occur.
Head injuries are not limited to significant incidents such as diagnosed or self-reported concussions. Recent research has found that subconcussive hits may also contribute to CTE. These are repetitive impacts to the head that do not result in diagnosable symptoms. It’s also unclear whether genetic risk factors may play a role.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
This brain disease can only get an official diagnosis with an autopsy of the brain. So doctors are not able to diagnose living patients. The brain autopsy looks for a clumping or accumulation of a certain type of protein called tau within the brain.
Doctors may note certain neurological symptoms as potential signs of CTE. The disorder can cause cognitive, mood, and behavioral changes. This includes difficulty thinking, short and/or long-term memory loss, depression and anxiety, emotional instability, and impaired judgment. The disorder also causes impulsive or erratic behavior such as aggression, paranoia, headaches, suicidal thoughts or behavior and progressive dementia.
Treatment Options for CTE
Symptoms of CTE often go unnoticed for years, even decades, after head trauma occurs. Although people can manage its symptoms, there isn’t a cure for the disease. And because there isn’t a scientifically known cause for CTE, many doctors hesitate to set exact guidelines for its prevention. With the apparent association with repetitive head trauma, there is a belief that avoiding that type of impact and decreasing risk of concussion would be helpful in preventing CTE.
In sports like football, proper playing technique and increased neck strength may help reduce head impact and movement, providing protection to the brain. Sideline and return-to-play protocols are also important for monitoring, managing, and rehabilitating head trauma.
With more research, we will learn more about this disease. That includes its cause, additional risk factors, and ways to diagnose and treat it. The good news is that recent sports and news media headlines have sparked a growing awareness of the disease and propelled further research.
Research Efforts
Current research in the field mainly focuses on identifying a biomarker or higher levels of the tau protein to aid in diagnosis of CTE while patients are still alive. But even if doctors are able to diagnose CTE, it’s still unclear exactly how head injuries or hits to the head cause CTE.
