CTE is most commonly seen in athletes in contact sports such as football and ice hockey.
Military soldiers may also develop CTE, especially those who have experienced multiple head injuries from blast trauma.
Unfortunately, there is currently no treatment for CTE.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Prevention, therefore, is of great importance.
Later on, in the course of CTE, patients will experience fromdementia.
Causes
A history of repetitive brain trauma is necessary for the development of CTE.
It’s unclear why some individuals with repetitive head traumas develop CTE and others do not.
Gender may also play a role.
Lastly, it’s important to distinguish post-concussive syndrome (PCS) from CTE.
PCS occurs after a concussion in some people and causes symptoms likenausea,headache, and confusion.
Autopsy Findings
There are several brain findings of CTE on autopsy.
Most notably, there is accumulation in various areas of the brain of certain proteins, such astauand TDP-43.
This is distinct from Alzheimers disease, which showsbeta-amyloidplaques, which are not present in most cases of CTE.
There is also frequent atrophy of thefrontal lobesin CTE.
The frontal lobes control your ability to make good decisions and plan, as well retrieve memories.
Prevention
There is no treatment available for CTE once it has developed.
As is usually the case, prevention is the best medicine.
The need for a safe culture in sports and the rest of life is becoming increasingly emphasized.
Neck strengthening exercises should also be incorporated into practices to help minimize head injury, especially in younger players.
Referees also play a role in preventing head injuries and the subsequent development of CTE.
Protective Equipment
Wearing protective equipmentlike an appropriately padded helmet and mouthguardcan protect against traumatic head injuries.
That said, these protective measures should not give players a false sense of security.
Engaging in reckless and/or violent play is never warranted.
In other words, its good to play hard, but its even more important to play safe.
Seek out guidance and care from your team physician or personal healthcare provider.
While love for a sport may be immense, the importance of one’s health is paramount.
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