A recent study of 614 donated brains from people who were known to have repeated head impacts linked a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to dementia. The researchers ruled out other brain diseases before comparing them to 248 donors who did not have CTE. Those with CTE had a four times increased odds of having dementia. This research was published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The Mayo Clinic cites repeated head injuries like concussions as a cause of CTE. The hallmark of CTE is the abnormal build up a a specific protein, which forms tangles around tiny blood vessels deep in the brain’s grooves and spreads as the disease progresses.
“By examining hundreds of brains and ruling out other common neurodegenerative diseases, the team could look at CTE alone and link it to symptoms reported during life,” said Amy Bany Adams, PhD, acting director of the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which funded the research, in a news release.
People who play U.S. football, box, or are in the military facing explosive blasts are at a much higher risk of CTEs than others who don’t engage in these kinds of activities. CTE can only be officially diagnosed after the death of the person who may have it. Symptoms include member loss, impulsive behavior, and depression.
Famous NFL Players Diagnosed with CTE
These players were diagnosed after their death. Some donated their brains to science in advance of their deaths, knowing that something was wrong. Several committed suicide.
- Linebacker Jovan Belcher
- Tight end Aaron Hernandez
- Wide receiver Chris Henry
- Defensive back Irv Cross
- Wide receiver Vincent Jackson
- Offensive lineman Conrad Dobler
- Linebacker Junior Seau
- Offensive lineman Terry Long
This list is not exhaustive and will likely increase over time, especially with the Super Bowl next weekend.
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