Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the breakdown of brain cells over time. It's caused by repeated head injury or blasts from explosions. Head injuries include concussions.

• Doctors aren't sure why some people with head injuries get CTE and some don't

• Symptoms of CTE can include depression, aggression, confusion, personality changes, and problems with moving quickly or speaking clearly

• There's no cure for CTE

• Treatment helps with mood symptoms and in keeping the person comfortable and safe

CTE is a type of dementia, which is a brain problem that makes it hard to remember, think, and learn.

CTE is caused by:

• Repeated head injuries, such as from playing football, boxing, or other sports—each head injury doesn't have to be severe to cause CTE

• Head injury from an explosion, most commonly in soldiers in combat

Symptoms of CTE may not start until later in life, sometimes after age 60.

Some people with CTE have mild symptoms in young adulthood that get more severe later in life.

Symptoms include:

• Depression

• Feeling irritable

• Suicidal thoughts

• Being aggressive

• Losing your temper easily

• Dementia

• Trouble planning or organizing

• Becoming clumsy

• Having trouble speaking clearly

Doctors suspect CTE in people who have had many episodes of head injuries or exposure to loud explosions and have symptoms of CTE.

There's no test to confirm a CTE diagnosis, but doctors will do brain imaging tests such as CT (computed tomography) scan. The imaging tests help doctors see if the person has some other condition with similar symptoms. The only way doctors know for sure a person has CTE is by studying the person's brain after death.

There's no cure for CTE, but the following help:

• Living in a safe and structured environment with a routine and regular activities

• Clearly explaining any changes in surroundings or caregivers

• Counseling

• Medicine to help with symptoms

To help reduce risk of CTE, people who have had a concussion should rest and stay away from athletic activities for a period of time.

Before their decision making is affected, people with CTE should make as many medical, financial, and legal decisions as possible. This includes choosing someone who can make additional medical decisions on your behalf once you can no longer do so. You should also discuss with your doctor what types of care you will want at the end of your life (living will).

As CTE gets worse, treatment tends to be for comfort instead of lengthening life.