What To Know About CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) is that it is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated traumatic brain injuries. About 17% of people with recurrent concussions or traumatic brain injuries will get CTE, but around 90% of people who develop CTE are athletes—particularly football players and boxers.
CTE typically causes changes in your cognition (thinking), mood, behavior, and movement ability. Symptoms often start mild and worsen over time.
There is no definitive way to test someone for CTE before death, making the condition challenging to treat. That’s why CTE prevention is so important.
What To Know About CTE Symptoms
CTE can cause changes to your mood, behavior, cognition, and ability to move. Mood and behavior symptoms are more common if you develop CTE at a younger age. Older people who get CTE are more likely to experience changes in cognition.
Psychological Symptoms
CTE can greatly affect your emotions. Research suggests that those living with CTE may experience a variety of mood-related symptoms, such as:
- Frequent mood swings
- Irritability
- Delusions
- Manic episodes
- Paranoia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Loss of motivation
- Withdrawing from social situations
Cognitive Symptoms
Cognitive (brain-related) changes can severely affect people living with CTE. You may notice symptoms such as:
- Short-term memory loss
- Difficulty remembering important details
- Lack of focus or concentration
- Trouble understanding information and language
- Lowered ability to complete tasks or accomplish goals
- Higher risk of developing dementia
Behavioral Symptoms
As their cognition and mood change, people with CTE may start to behave differently. The condition can cause the following behavioral symptoms:32
- Impulsive actions or decision-making
- Aggression toward others
- Emotional outbursts
- Inappropriate comments
Motor Symptoms
Motor (movement-related) symptoms are more common among older adults with CTE and may include:
- Frequent falls
- Tremors
- Shuffling gait
- Difficulty speaking
- Being more clumsy than usual
- Muscle pain or stiffness
Research has shown a link between CTE and a movement disorder called Parkinsonism, which can cause symptoms like tremors, rigidity, and slow movement.
What To Know About CTE Causes
When you experience a traumatic brain injury, the high-speed force of impact stretches the cells and blood vessels in your brain. This injures your nerve fibers and compromises your blood-brain barrier by introducing small hemorrhages (bleeding). The trauma or force also causes inflammation and stores a protein called tau in different parts of the brain, which can damage your brain tissues.
Traumatic brain injuries, like concussions, are the most common cause of CTE. These events typically occur over several years. Concussions are usually triggered by a strong blow to the head or body that moves the brain inside the skull. A strong whiplash, such as during a car accident, can also cause a concussion.2
Risk Factors
Several risk factors have been linked to CTE. You are more likely to develop the condition if you:
- Play (or played) contact sports like football, boxing, and hockey
- Were in the military
- Use performance-enhancing drugs
- Experienced concussions at a young age
What To Know About CTE Diagnosis
At this time, there is no surefire way to diagnose CTE while you are still alive. A definitive diagnosis can only occur after you have passed through closely examining changes in your brain tissue. To do this, a healthcare team may order tests like:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Uses imaging to determine if certain areas have become thicker or thinner
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): Checks to see if there is reduced blood flow to any areas of the brain
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI): Assesses the white matter in your brain to see if it has broken down
- Fluid biomarkers: Utilizes blood tests that can check the presence of biomarkers (like the tau protein) in your brain
It’s worth noting that if you have symptoms of CTE, it’s still important to see your healthcare provider or a neurologist (a doctor who specializes in the brain and spinal cord) for support.
While they can’t offer a definitive diagnosis, they can presume that you have CTE or another neurological condition that is causing your symptoms. Your healthcare team can also help you find treatments that may better manage your symptoms and help you with What To Know About CTE.
