Cte what is it

Unlike concussions, which cause symptoms, subconcussive head impacts do not cause symptoms. A collision while playing sports is one way a person can get a subconcussive head impact. CTE has been diagnosed in people who had a history of repeated subconcussive head impacts and did not have any known history of concussion. Most studies on CTE focus on former athletes who played contact sports such as football or boxing and military service members.

Not everyone who has repeated hits to the head or brain injuries will develop CTE. Occasional hits to the head, such as the bumps and tumbles that children take when learning to walk, do not cause CTE.

CTE symptoms can affect the way a person thinks, feels, acts, and moves. Symptoms do not show up in the same way for each person. They may then later develop memory and other thinking problems that become serious enough to get in the way of their normal daily activities such as social or work-related activities.

Over time they may have mood or personality changes or become forgetful and struggle with daily tasks. Symptoms of CTE are similar to those of other health problems. If you or a family member or friend have any questions or concerns, it is important to talk to a doctor. Treatments may be available to help. Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed after death. Developing ways to diagnose CTE during life will help researchers learn more about the disease. It may also lead to treatments for CTE in the future.

The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans, their family, or friends with qualified caring responders:. Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only. I'm almost certain I have CTE.

I have just about every symptom listed. And suffered from post concussion syndrome and unfortunately while trying to recover have continuously hit my head.

Related Conditions. Share or Print this page. Symptoms Research on CTE diagnosis, cause s , symptoms, and risk factors is still in the early stages. Other symptoms may include problems paying attention and organizing thoughts as well as difficulty with balance and motor skills. People may not experience these potential signs of CTE until years or decades after brain injuries occur.

Diagnosis A diagnosis of CTE can only be made after death, when an autopsy can reveal whether the known brain changes of CTE are present. Read more: Caregiving. Don't just hope for a cure. Help us find one. You do NOT need to have lost consciousness to have a concussion. These symptoms include blurred or double vision, seeing stars, sensitivity to light or noise, headache, dizziness or balance problems, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, fatigue, confusion, difficulty remembering, difficulty concentrating, or loss of consciousness.

What are the symptoms of CTE? The symptoms of CTE include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, anxiety, suicidality, parkinsonism, and, eventually, progressive dementia. These symptoms often begin years or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement.

I recently had a concussion, and I am suffering from a number of the symptoms listed above. Do I have CTE? The symptoms of CTE generally do not present until years or decades after the brain trauma occurred or after one stops actively playing contact sports. While most concussion symptoms resolve within a few weeks, the symptoms can last for months or, in severe cases, even years. When this occurs, it is called post-concussion syndrome.

Post-concussion syndrome is different than CTE, and the symptoms of post-concussive syndrome usually resolve years or decades before the onset of CTE symptoms.

If you believe you are suffering from either an acute concussion or post-concussion syndrome, contact your physician. For more information on physicians in your area who work with those suffering from brain trauma, please use the Concussion Clinics search tool.

Just because you have some or many of the symptoms of CTE does not necessarily mean that you have the disease itself. There are many possible causes of these types of symptoms. If you are having difficulties, you should speak with your primary care or specialist physician. How is CTE diagnosed? At this time CTE can only be diagnosed after death by postmortem neuropathological analysis.