What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)?  Is that different than a concussion?

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CTE and concussions are different conditions.  Concussions occur after some type of acute brain trauma and represent a functional impairment rather than anatomical one.  They are usually self limiting and resolve after cognitive and physical rest.  A common misconception is that the diagnosis requires a period of unconsciousness.  Concussions that occur shortly after a previous concussion can cause serious consequences in young adults and adolescants.  To help prevent serious brain injury we follow strict guidelines when evaluating patients for return to work or competition.

CTE is a process where proteins are deposited in the brain after repetitive head trauma which may eventually lead to functional impairment such as dementia or personality changes.  The National Football League recently made the term CTE well known, but in fact sports medicine doctors knew about this condition years before.  It was known for over 50 years that boxers would sometimes develop a condition called "punch drunk" which we now know is CTE.  People with CTE have proteins deposited in their brains similar to what happens to alzheimers patients but in a different area of the brain.  Unlike Alzheimer's though, CTE can occur in young brains.  It appears that those sports which involve frequent mild head trauma (repetitive subconcussive head trauma) are responsible for CTE.  Not everyone who plays contact sports and has repetitive subconcussive head trauma will get CTE, but some will and we don't yet know how to predict who will develop the condition.