What Is CTE And How Is It Related To ‪Concussions?

How Are CTE And Concussions Different?

CTE and concussions are two distinctly different medical conditions, with their own symptoms and impacts on a patient. Concussions are injuries impairing a person's ability to function, such as affecting their memory or balance, whereas CTE is much more serious, as it is associated with behavioral changes, depression, aggression, and dementia. As Goldstein noticed within the research's findings, the same brain pathology observed in the teenagers after a head injury was also present within the mice, which showed no indication repeated head injuries were related to concussions, in fact, that both medical conditions were different. The research provided strong causal evidence linking head impacts to traumatic brain injuries and CTE, but that was independent of a concussion. CTE occurs in individuals who have repeated head traumas over a significant amount of time, whereas concussions are immediate brain traumas showing obvious symptoms, whereas CTE does not.

How To Prevent And Treat Patients With CTE

Currently, there is no treatment for patients who are suspected of suffering from CTE, as a diagnosis cannot take place until the person is deceased, with an autopsy. Due to the study's findings, it has become apparent that more efforts need to be done to protect athletes from developing CTE, and to shift the focus on preventing just concussions, but also prevent repeated hits to the head. Ann McKee, the director of the CTE Center and the study's co-author, believes that to reduce the risk of CTE in athletes and military personnel, that organizations, such as the U.S. Military and National Football League, need to take preventative measures and try to eliminate athletes from receiving multiple head traumas by incorporating better rules and protective gear.