Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Original Editor - Gareth Geoffreys
Top Contributors - Gareth Geoffreys, Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Rucha Gadgil, Aminat Abolade and Carina Therese Magtibay
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by repetitive blunt force[1] and the transfer of acceleration-deceleration forces to the brain. CTE was originally classified as "punch drunk" syndrome due to its prevalence in boxers. Although Brain trauma like CTE has been a recognized neurological condition in boxing for almost a century now, its prevalence in other contact sports, such as rugby, hockey and American football has only recently been brought to light[2].
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of CTE can manifest in any of the four main clinical domains[3]:
- Behavioural:
- Verbal or physical violence
- Explosivity
- Loss of control/short fuse
- Cognitive:
- Impairment of memory
- Executive dysfunction
- Reduced attention span
- Mood:
- Depression
- Helplessness
- Motor:
Motor dysfunction only occurs at later stages of Neurodegeneration and is strongly correlated with age[1]. With Age CTE is often found to develope into more serious forms of neuromuscular diseases, such as Motor Neurone Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Disease.
Clinical subtypes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy[3]
|
|---|
Clinical assessment[edit | edit source]
Single incidences of head trauma such as concussion will very rarely result in the development of CTE. However, repeated brain trauma sustained at the subconcussive and concussive level has been found to be a strong predictor of CTE Development[1].
General consensus on the best way to clinically assess CTE is lacking. however, some have tried to create a framework from which you can more accurately judge the likelihood of CTE being present. When assessing the clinical presentation of CTE, Montenigro et al. (2014)[3]
Management[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
- bulleted list
- x
or
- numbered list
- x
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McKee A, Stein T, Kiernan P, Alvarez V. The Neuropathology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Brain Pathology. 2015;25(3):350-364.
- ↑ Omalu B, DeKosky S, Minster R, Kamboh M, Hamilton R, Wecht C. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in a National Football League Player. Neurosurgery. 2006;:E1003.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Montenigro P, Baugh C, Daneshvar D, Mez J, Budson A, Au R et al. Clinical subtypes of chronic traumatic encephalopathy: literature review and proposed research diagnostic criteria for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy. 2014;6(5-8).
