Posted on 11/16/2017 4:46:53 AM PST by TigerClaws
Researchers in Chicago report that they have detected evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, more commonly known as CTE, in a living patient for the first time.
Currently, CTE, a degenerative brain disease found in those with a history of repetitive brain trauma, can only be formally diagnosed after an autopsy. But a new study indicates researchers may be one step closer to being able to diagnose the disease while a patient is still alive by detecting deposits of tau proteins.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Good questions- not easily answered.
CTE is probably akin to dementia pugilistica which occurs in about 20% of professional boxers. Other sports have not been studied as well. Relative rates of concussive injuries may provide some guidance but not definitive.
Trauma certainly could have occurred earlier as well. There is some evidence to suggest that concussions occurring in the early teenage years or before may be more significant than those occurring later on
Possibly- anything reducing impacts on the skull and concussions would likely help.
CTE is a the result of cumulative damage over years. There may be a genetic component (like so much else) with some individuals being more likely to develop CTE as a consequence of repeated impacts than others. The presence of an APOE genotype (also associated with Alzheimers) being one identified possible risk factor.
Right now predominantly post mortum through autopsies by PET tau may very well also for identification in people before they die and possibly even in early stages of the disorder.
All of this will take time and further studies and comparisons to healthy “normals”
btw, I for one think this is a made up crisis...these players used roids, HGH, and now want to get compensation....
and what they do is VOLUNTARY...
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