Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disease that happens when a person has many head injuries. This damage leads to the death of brain cells, a process called degeneration. The damage from CTE gets worse over time. The only way to be sure someone has CTE is to examine their brain after they die, during an autopsy.

CTE isn't very common, and scientists still don't fully understand it. It isn't caused by just one big head injury. Instead, it's linked to repeated head injuries, often seen in contact sports like football and boxing, or in military situations involving explosions. A key factor is "second impact syndrome," where a second injury happens before the first one is fully recovered from. This can greatly increase the risk.

Scientists are working hard to understand what causes CTE. They're looking at how many head injuries a person has, and how severe those injuries are, to see if those factors contribute to CTE. They're also studying other possible influences.

CTE has been found in the brains of athletes who played contact sports, and in military personnel exposed to explosions. Symptoms of CTE can include problems with thinking, mood swings, physical problems, and other unusual behaviors. These symptoms can appear years or even decades after the initial head trauma.

Doctors can't tell if someone has CTE while they're alive, except in cases where a person has had a high risk of repeated head injuries, such as professional athletes. Researchers are developing tests to find CTE earlier, but these tests aren't yet reliable. When doctors see symptoms that might suggest CTE, they might diagnose a condition called "traumatic encephalopathy syndrome."

How often CTE occurs isn't well known, but it seems to be uncommon. Scientists are still learning the causes. Unfortunately, there's no cure for CTE.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Explained: Recognizing Symptoms and Seeking Help

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain condition linked to repeated head injuries. Unfortunately, there's no single, definitive set of symptoms directly pointing to CTE. Many possible symptoms are also seen in other conditions.

What CTE Symptoms Might Look Like:

People diagnosed with CTE at autopsy have shown a variety of symptoms, often developing gradually over time. These include:

• Cognitive Changes: Difficulty with thinking clearly, remembering things, planning, organizing, and completing tasks.
• Behavioral Changes: Impulsive actions, aggression, and emotional instability.
• Mood Changes: Depression, apathy, and anxiety.
• Substance Use Issues: Some individuals with CTE may turn to substance misuse.
• Suicidal Thoughts/Behaviors: A serious concern, as research suggests a potential link between CTE and increased suicide risk.
• Motor Problems: Trouble walking, maintaining balance, tremors (like Parkinson's-like symptoms), or issues with speaking or swallowing (like motor neuron disease symptoms).

How and When CTE Symptoms Appear:

CTE symptoms don't appear right after a head injury. Instead, they typically develop years or even decades later. Experts believe the condition progresses in stages:

• Early-Onset (Late 20s to Early 30s): This stage might be characterized by mental health problems like depression, anxiety, impulsive behavior, and aggression. These symptoms can be challenging to recognize as early signs of CTE.
• Later-Onset (Around Age 60): In this stage, symptoms often involve memory loss and thinking difficulties, eventually progressing to a form of dementia.

It's crucial to remember that the full list of CTE symptoms isn't completely understood, even after an autopsy. Similarly, how the condition progresses isn't fully understood. This means that many symptoms might be vague or not specifically linked to CTE, making diagnosis difficult. Repeated head injuries, whether mild or severe, are believed to play a crucial role in CTE development.

When to See a Doctor:

If you experience any of the following, it's essential to seek medical attention:

• Suicidal Thoughts: If you're having thoughts of harming yourself, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. You can also contact a suicide lifeline. In the U.S., call or text 988.
• Head Injury: Even if a head injury doesn't require immediate emergency care, see your doctor. This is especially important for children.
• Memory Problems: If you're concerned about your memory or have other thinking or behavioral issues, schedule an appointment.
• Personality or Mood Changes: Significant changes in your personality or mood, such as depression, anxiety, aggression, or impulsiveness, warrant a visit to your doctor.

Important Note: This information is for general knowledge and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain condition that often develops slowly over many years, caused by repeated head injuries. These injuries can range from mild bumps to severe concussions.

When to See a Doctor:

It's crucial to talk to your doctor if you're experiencing any of the following:

• Suicidal thoughts: Research suggests that people with CTE may have a higher risk of suicidal thoughts or feelings. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, please get help immediately. Call 911 or your local emergency number. You can also contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or using the Lifeline Chat. Remember, help is available.

• Head Injury: Even if a head injury doesn't require immediate emergency care, it's still important to see a doctor. If you've had a head injury, schedule an appointment. If you're concerned about a head injury in a child, call their doctor right away. The doctor may recommend immediate medical attention depending on the symptoms.

• Memory Problems: If you're worried about your memory, or noticing any changes in how you think or act, see your doctor. This includes any problems with concentration or changes in behavior.

• Personality or Mood Changes: Significant changes in your personality or mood, such as depression, anxiety, aggression, or impulsive behavior, could be warning signs. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss these changes.

It's important to remember that these are just some potential symptoms. If you have any concerns about your health, seeking medical advice is always recommended.

A concussion happens when a forceful blow or sudden movement jolts your brain inside your skull. This movement can damage the brain.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is often linked to repeated head injuries. Studies have mainly focused on athletes like football players and ice hockey players, as well as military personnel in war zones. However, other sports and situations like physical abuse can also cause repeated head trauma.

A head injury, like a concussion, can lead to various symptoms, including headaches and memory problems. Importantly, not everyone who has repeated concussions, even athletes or soldiers, develops CTE. Some studies haven't found a higher risk of CTE in people with repeated head injuries.

When a brain has CTE, scientists see a buildup of a protein called tau around the blood vessels. This tau buildup in CTE is different from the tau buildup seen in Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. CTE is believed to cause parts of the brain to shrink, a condition called atrophy. This happens because the injuries disrupt the nerve cells that send electrical signals to each other, affecting communication between brain cells.

People with CTE might also show signs of other brain diseases, like Alzheimer's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, or frontotemporal lobar degeneration (frontotemporal dementia). These other diseases can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from CTE.

Getting a traumatic brain injury (TBI) more than once is believed to make a person more likely to develop Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Scientists are still figuring out exactly what other things might increase the chances of getting CTE. In simpler terms, having a brain injury multiple times could raise the risk of this condition. We're still learning about all the possible causes.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) currently has no cure. However, because CTE is strongly linked to repeated concussions, it might be preventable. Someone who's had one concussion is more vulnerable to a second. To lower the risk of CTE, the best approach now is to focus on reducing the number of mild brain injuries and preventing further head trauma after an initial concussion. This means taking steps to avoid situations that could cause concussions, and getting proper medical care and rest after any head injury.

Currently, there's no sure way to diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) while someone is alive. However, experts have created guidelines for a condition called Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES). TES is closely linked to CTE. Doctors suspect CTE in people who've had repeated head injuries over a long period, like from sports or military service.

To diagnose CTE, doctors need to see physical damage to the brain tissue and certain protein deposits (like tau protein) after death. This is usually done during an autopsy.

Some researchers are working hard to develop a test for CTE that can be used while a person is still alive. Other researchers continue studying the brains of deceased individuals, like former athletes, who might have had CTE. The goal is to create tests that can be used during life. These tests could include special brain scans (like advanced MRI), neuropsychological tests (which measure thinking and memory skills), and other biological markers.

If you have concerns about CTE, doctors at Mayo Clinic can provide support and care. They have a team of experts who can help.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has no cure. It's a brain problem that gets progressively worse over time. This means the symptoms and damage continue to grow worse as time goes on. Scientists are still working to find effective treatments, but right now, the best approach is to focus on preventing head injuries. Knowing how to recognize and manage traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) is also crucial. If you or someone you know is concerned about possible CTE or a TBI, it's important to see a doctor. Schedule an appointment today.