Is there a link between Alzheimer’s disease and CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy)? The US NFL’s chief medical officer says CTE isn’t just a football issue, it’s a public health issue.
A concussion is like a bruise on the brain caused by a forceful impact to the head, which can occur in sports, accidents, or falls. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, and sensitivity to light or sound.
Concussions are particularly common in contact sports, but can happen to anyone, especially in high-impact situations like car accidents or unexpected injuries. The symptoms may not appear immediately, making it crucial to recognize and diagnose concussions early to prevent further complications.
Research has shown that repeated concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition marked by abnormal protein buildup in the brain, which can cause memory loss, mood swings, and aggression. Dr. Sylvanus Ly with The Orthopaedic Clinic in Shreveport, explains, “[researchers] take autopsies and they’ll find an abundance of these proteins called tau proteins. And those tau proteins are a key marker in a couple of diseases like dementia as well as Alzheimer’s and CTE. There’s only a few conditions where those proteins aggregate and collect inside the brain. It’s the same protein in both. So I wonder if there’s more of a connection than we have always thought there were.”
