Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Research Paper
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Jenna Cottet
Athletic Health Care
Ms. Maull
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy First described in the year 1928 (McKee 2010), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has been found to be the cause of retired NFL linebacker Junior Seau’s suicide. The disease deteriorated his brain and hindered his ability to think logically. Seau is not the only retired NFL player found to have had CTE through autopsy following their death. Mike Webster was the first football player found to have CTE, when scientists found the characteristic buildup of the tau protein in his brain. Another significant …show more content…
Prevention is purely the only form of treatment as of now and even just that is very difficult. In football, those hard hits the players perform are not only a simple aspect of the game, but they are a huge part of the sport’s identity. It would require a collective effort on behalf of the administrators, coaches, players, referees, team physicians, and even the fans who watch the games. Policies, techniques, player’s understanding of potential dangers of downplaying injuries, rules, playing environment, return-to-play criteria, protective equipment and so much more would need to be improved in order for prevention to be …show more content…
One research program called LEGEND, Longitudinal Examination to Gather Evidence of Neurodegenerative Disease, has participants both with and without a history of concussions, take interviews over the phone as well as yearly questionnaires online. These individuals also have to opportunity to provide a saliva sample in order for BU to use it in genetic testing. The university also has a study called DETECT, Diagnosing and Evaluating Traumatic Encephalopathy Using Clinical Tests, which was the first research project on CTE ever funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health). It is stated on their Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy website that this study’s ultimate goal is to develop methods of diagnosing the disease during life through the use of a variety of tests, including MRIs, MRSs, blood tests, and measures of the proteins in spinal fluid. The participants, who are planned to include 150 former NFL players ages forty to sixty-nine and 50 same-age athletes who played non-contact sports, will also undergo neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive assessments, as well as genetic
Jenna Cottet
Athletic Health Care
Ms. Maull
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy First described in the year 1928 (McKee 2010), Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that has been found to be the cause of retired NFL linebacker Junior Seau’s suicide. The disease deteriorated his brain and hindered his ability to think logically. Seau is not the only retired NFL player found to have had CTE through autopsy following their death. Mike Webster was the first football player found to have CTE, when scientists found the characteristic buildup of the tau protein in his brain. Another significant …show more content…
Prevention is purely the only form of treatment as of now and even just that is very difficult. In football, those hard hits the players perform are not only a simple aspect of the game, but they are a huge part of the sport’s identity. It would require a collective effort on behalf of the administrators, coaches, players, referees, team physicians, and even the fans who watch the games. Policies, techniques, player’s understanding of potential dangers of downplaying injuries, rules, playing environment, return-to-play criteria, protective equipment and so much more would need to be improved in order for prevention to be …show more content…
One research program called LEGEND, Longitudinal Examination to Gather Evidence of Neurodegenerative Disease, has participants both with and without a history of concussions, take interviews over the phone as well as yearly questionnaires online. These individuals also have to opportunity to provide a saliva sample in order for BU to use it in genetic testing. The university also has a study called DETECT, Diagnosing and Evaluating Traumatic Encephalopathy Using Clinical Tests, which was the first research project on CTE ever funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health). It is stated on their Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy website that this study’s ultimate goal is to develop methods of diagnosing the disease during life through the use of a variety of tests, including MRIs, MRSs, blood tests, and measures of the proteins in spinal fluid. The participants, who are planned to include 150 former NFL players ages forty to sixty-nine and 50 same-age athletes who played non-contact sports, will also undergo neurological, psychiatric, and cognitive assessments, as well as genetic