5.4

• chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive, degenerative and fatal brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head over a long period of time
• a forceful blow to the head causes your brain to move back and fourth inside your skull. this damages brain tissue and disrupts connections between brain cells
• damaged nerve cells accumulate abnormal amounts of tau proteins, which makes them dysfunctional
• behavioural and cognitive symptoms of CTE may not appear for years after brain injury
• CTE symptoms are similar to degenerative brain diseases, making CTE difficult to diagnose
• currently, a definitive diagnosis of CTE can only made by an autopsy of the brain
• supportive treatments can help sufferers manage their symptoms, but there is no cute for CTE