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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is most commonly abbreviated as CTE. The degenerative brain condition known as CTE is the end effect of suffering several injuries to the head.
You might have heard of CTE in relation to football players who sustain several concussions over the course of their careers. However, CTE may affect anybody who has suffered more than one brain trauma, and this is true regardless of the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of the lesions.
The following is an explanation of what chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is as well as how this brain illness develops.
CTE Traits and Characteristics
The following are some of the characteristics of CTE:
CTE is not caused by heredity in the same way as Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Parkinson's disease are. Nor is it caused by any of the other degenerative brain conditions. Instead, it is the consequence of some kind of physical injury to the brain, which then sets off a chain reaction.
The accumulation of tau proteins around the blood vessels in the brain is a direct effect of damage to the brain. Tau proteins will accumulate to a greater degree if the brain is injured repeatedly.
These proteins disrupt the normal blood flow to the brain, which in turn leads to the atrophy of some regions of the brain. These portions of the brain have atrophy, which means they are unable to process or store information in the same manner that healthy brain tissue does.
CTE is a degenerative condition.
After the chain reaction has begun, the brain does not recover or improve in any way. Instead, the state of the brain will continue to deteriorate.
When parts of the brain contract up and die, the tau proteins interfere with the blood flow to the parts of the brain that are still healthy. The damage worsens over time, culminating in the death of brain cells brought on by an inadequate supply of blood. Over the course of one's lifetime, a greater proportion of one's brain will atrophy, which will eventually lead to dementia and death.
CTE Causes a Range of Symptoms
CTE is associated with a variety of symptoms, which arise when different parts of the brain deteriorate and die. These symptoms consist of the following:
Memory loss and trouble focusing are two of the cognitive signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Patients have difficulty with both the planning and carrying out of tasks. When trying to solve an issue or respond to a question, they might have moments of mental disorientation.
Patients may exhibit behaviors such as aggression and impulsivity. Patients with CTE may exhibit unpredictable and unstable behavior, including violent outbursts. They may exhibit behaviors consistent with paranoia.
A significant number of people with CTE exhibit symptoms of mood disorders such as bipolar disorder. They might develop depression or even suicidal thoughts as a result. They could also turn to substances like alcohol or drugs as a means of coping with their problems.
CTE sufferers might experience tremors. They could have trouble communicating and walking as well. It's possible that they'll experience a loss of dexterity in their fingers and hands.
Diagnosing CTE
Imaging methods are unable to identify CTE in people who are still alive at this time. In order for doctors to diagnose CTE, they need to dissect and weigh the patient's brain. Because of this, CTE can only be diagnosed after a person has passed away.
The brain of a patient who has severe CTE will show obvious signs of shrinking when it is examined by medical professionals. They are also able to locate holes in the tissue of the brain that are caused by the brain's atrophy. Last but not least, the brain of a person who has CTE often weighs much less than a brain that is healthy.
Risk Factors for CTE
The most important risk factor for CTE is having multiple head injuries. Boxers, hockey players, and football players are commonly diagnosed with this condition by medical professionals. People who operate around explosives, such as combat troops, miners, and demolition workers, also have a higher risk of contracting the condition. CTE can also occur in those who have been repeatedly abused as children or in situations of domestic violence.
Importantly, medical professionals think that sustaining several concussions is not necessary to develop CTE. Instead, CTE can develop after a person has sustained several blows to the head, even if none of the blows were severe enough to be classified as concussions.
CTE Prevention
CTE currently has no treatment available. As a direct consequence of this, medical professionals have prioritized the prevention of head injuries.
The following are some techniques to reduce the likelihood that you may get CTE:
Despite your best efforts, there is a possibility that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) may develop due to faulty safety equipment, pressure from coaches and schools, or inadequate medical advice.
When you have had a head injury in the past and there is a possibility of getting another one, you should always use your best judgment when determining whether or not to take part in an activity that might put you at risk of getting another head injury.
Call Our Florida Brain Injury Attorneys Today!
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