According to the Mayo Clinic, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a rare brain disease that affects some people who have suffered repeated concussions or traumatic brain injuries. Such injuries may come from military combat, contact sports, employment as a first responder, domestic violence or assault, or even self-inflicted head injuries like banging your head against a wall. CTE is a disorder that is not yet well understood; however, experts believe that repeated brain trauma causes the nerve cells and tissue in an affected person’s brain to degenerate slowly over time. Although not much is known about CTE, scientists believe the disorder is linked to a buildup of abnormal protein called tau. At the moment, the only way to diagnose CTE is postmortem during an autopsy of the brain.

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What Causes CTE?
There are multiple causes of CTE, including a history of repeated head injuries. Repeated head injuries are the most widely known factor contributing to CTE. These head injuries may include symptomatic concussions or non-concussive hits that do not produce symptoms. Non-concussive hits can occur while performing routine actions in contact sports, such as heading the ball in soccer and checking in ice hockey. Moreover, CTE has been associated with second impact syndrome, where a second head injury occurs before a previous head injury heals.
Additionally, CTE can be caused by a buildup of faulty tau proteins in your brain. Tau is a protein that helps maintain the structure of nerve cells in your brain. However, tau also contributes to the development of CTE. The cells in a person’s brain can only use a protein if it is made in the correct shape. If a protein’s shape becomes altered, it will malfunction and not be able to enter the cell. When the tau protein is altered, it can spread and affect other proteins and parts of the brain, leading to degeneration. CTE is currently diagnosed by finding an altered form of the tau protein in the brain.
When does CTE Occur?
CTE does not appear immediately after a head injury. For many people with CTE, it can take years or even decades after the last brain injury before symptoms are severe enough to notice. The disease can produce symptoms as early as the 20s or as late as the 60s; however, the average age of people with confirmed CTE is around 40 to 43 years old. Thus, CTE can affect the brain many years after the last time a person participates in contact sports or other activities that could injure the brain.
What are the Symptoms of CTE?
The symptoms of CTE present are similar to those of Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia. Symptoms can include trouble with thinking and emotions, memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidality, progressive dementia, difficulty sleeping, and trouble balancing. These symptoms and changes in the brain can begin months, years, or decades after the last brain trauma incident.
Is There a Cure for CTE?
At the moment, there is no cure for CTE. Additionally, there is no conclusive way to diagnose CTE while a person is alive. The only way to diagnose CTE is by examining samples of a person’s brain postmortem. Although there is not yet a cure for CTE, there are treatments and lifestyle changes that can help manage symptoms. A functional capacity exam can help identify where changes need to be made in activities and lifestyle. Possible ways to manage CTE symptoms include medications that can help with thinking and memory loss, depression, and anxiety; taking part in activities that stimulate the brain; and doing Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells. Additionally, talking to a counselor or psychologist can help with changes in thinking, behavior, and mood.