Every year in the U.S., approximately 214,110 people are admitted to the hospital with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), and nearly 69,500 people die. Not every blow to the head is serious, but repeated blows can be, even mild ones.
CTE is one reason why you should speak to your doctor if you are at risk of receiving multiple head injuries of any kind. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that affects people who’ve experienced repetitive brain trauma.
CTE is a rare disorder, but anyone who has had multiple concussions and nonconcussive impacts is at risk. Military veterans and athletes have a higher risk of the disorder than most people.
What Is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a rare type of brain damage that results from receiving multiple head injuries. The injuries don’t have to cause a concussion to increase a person’s risk of developing CTE. According to Harvard Health, the connection between repeated head impacts and CTE is strongly supported by scientific evidence.
CTE was first identified as “punch-drunk syndrome” because it was recognized in boxers who took many blows to the head. As research on brain injuries improved over the decades, the effects of traumatic brain injury among professional football players began to reveal the dangers of surviving multiple traumatic brain injuries.
CTE presents as a certain type of dementia, but it can only be diagnosed by performing an autopsy after the afflicted person has died. Contact-sport athletes and parents of young athletes are becoming more educated on CTE and the risks associated with TBIs.
The symptoms of CTE can be indistinguishable from other types of dementia. They include memory loss, impulsive behavior, mood disturbances, and impaired judgment. Suicidal thoughts are also a symptom of CTE. Symptoms don’t develop immediately after a fall or accident. It takes repeated traumas over many years for symptoms to occur.
Long-Term Effects of CTE
As with other forms of dementia, the impact of CTE typically worsens with time. CTE also increases a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease and advanced dementia. These changes, as well as changes in behavior and memory loss, can make it difficult to care for a person with CTE. They may require 24-hour nursing care to remain safe and as healthy as possible.
Diagnosis and Treatment
There is currently no method for diagnosing CTE in a living person. After death, doctors can examine the brain and look for a buildup of abnormal tau proteins that indicate the presence of CTE.
The damage caused by repeated head injuries can’t be reversed, but the symptoms of CTE can be treated with medications, such as antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs.
Preventing CTE
If you have had one concussion, you automatically have a greater risk of experiencing an additional head injury. Avoiding activities where impact is common is the best prevention. Using proper safety gear, especially helmets, while playing contact sports reduces the risk of head injuries and CTE.
People who have had a head injury in a car accident or other incident should take extra precautions to safeguard themselves from repeated injuries.
Contact the Kennesaw Personal Injury Lawyers at Starks Byron, P.C. for Help Today
If you know someone with a history of traumatic brain injuries who is having symptoms of dementia, you may wonder if they’re suffering from CTE. Unfortunately, it is not currently possible to diagnose the disorder while a person is alive. However, treatments for CTE are the same as treatments for other dementia disorders.
Don’t hesitate to speak to a physician about your CTE concerns. It is important for your physician to know about your or a loved one’s full history of repeated head injuries.
For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Starks Byron, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Kennesaw, GA today.
We proudly serve Cobb County and its surrounding areas:
Starks Byron, P.C.
1275 Shiloh Rd NW Ste 2710,
Kennesaw, GA 30144
(404) 795 5115
