THE SCIENCE

UNDERSTANDING THE DANGERS OF CTE AND YOUTH TACKLE FOOTBALL

Is a decade of joy from tackle football worth the risks of a lifetime reduced to suffering cognitive deficits, memory loss, irritability and aggression, impulse control issues, mood changes, and in some cases suicide? Each year played the risk increases.

WHAT IS CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive traumatic brain injury. Medical evidence points to repeated blows to the head and concussions as the source of CTE. Players participating in high-contact sports such as American football are more likely to develop the disease. The disease can manifest years or even decades after the last brain trauma or last involvement in the sport. Currently, there are no cures or treatments for CTE, and the majority of research is focused on finding a reliable technique to diagnose the disease.

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is closely associated with repeated head trauma and concussions. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a hit to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to whiplash back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to compress against or twist, creating chemical changes in the brain. These changes can alter the chemical balance in the brain, often damaging brain cells. Doctors sometimes describe a concussion as a “mild” brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, the effects of a concussion can be serious. While not everyone who suffers a concussion will develop CTE, there is a strong correlation between the number of concussions and the likelihood of developing the disease; the more hits, the more risk.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF CTE?

CTE can lead to memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, depression, dementia, and others. In CTE, the afflicted person’s body becomes unable to interact normally with the tau protein, which in turn affects other proteins in the body. In a person with CTE, these proteins fold abnormally, which ultimately spreads throughout the brain, killing brain cells and causing irreparable damage.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CTE?

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy can manifest itself in many ways. In more advanced stages of CTE, psychiatric manifestations occur. These include emotional and behavioral dysfunction, impulsivity, irritability, and poor frustration tolerance. Also, many patients develop depression, anxiety, and possibly even psychotic symptoms, like paranoia or hallucinations. The symptoms of CTE vary between afflicted individuals. A growing number of retired athletes diagnosed with CTE after death died as a result of suicide.

HOW IS CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY DIAGNOSED?

CTE can only be definitively diagnosed during an autopsy after the patient has passed away. During the autopsy, doctors will analyze the brain tissue of the deceased who have shown symptoms of CTE. Specifically, doctors are looking for a pattern of tau protein in the brain that can confirm the diagnosis. Although they are not currently able to identify CTE in living patients, researchers are working to develop diagnostic tests to officially identify CTE while people are still alive.

ARE THERE ANY TREATMENTS FOR CTE?

Currently, the only treatments for CTE are supportive treatments for the symptoms. There are no treatments that prevent, slow, or eradicate the disease.

WHEN SHOULD I SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE?

If you think you may be showing symptoms of CTE, it’s best to contact your doctor or specialist as soon as possible. In some cases, your doctor will involve your local social care services to help draw up and carry out a long-term care plan.

HOW CAN I PREVENT CTE?

The only way to prevent CTE is to avoid repetitive head injuries and concussions. Although many head injuries are difficult to predict or avoid, there are things you can do to reduce your risk, like choosing to not participate in high-impact collision sports like youth tackle football.