What You Need to Know About Concussion
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease usually found in people with an extensive history of repetitive brain trauma. This repetitive trauma doesn’t necessarily have to be severe in any one instance and can include concussions as well as subconcussive hits to the head. The condition is characterized by the degeneration of brain tissue and is associated with memory loss, confusion, impulse issues, mood disorders and even full-blown dementia. CTE has been known for a long time to affect professional boxers, but recent media attention of CTE has shifted to emerging cases documented in professional football players. It is important to note that while repetitive brain trauma is thought to be necessary to develop CTE, not everyone exposed to this type of trauma will get the disease. This suggests that genetics or other factors play a role as well. At this point, CTE can only be diagnosed after death, making it hard to study the condition.
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