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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – There is a condition out there called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or (CTE). It is a disease that causes degenerative brain issues. It mostly affects people with repeated brain trauma. Some major people in combat sports, football and other contact sports suffer from this disease. It is not only resigned to those in sports either, as it also affects members of the military. One of the main causes is from repeated concussions and additional traumas to the head. This condition can persist for years or even decades because of repeated hits to the cranium.
Looking Into the Brain
Someone who suffers from this disease has a brain that is slowly deteriorating over time. There are areas of the brain that are getting smaller. Some of the parts of the brain are more prone to atrophic degeneration than others. There is also an opposite effect going on, where other areas will be enlarged. A protein in the brain called the tau protein is building up and causes the damage. This can interfere with the natural function of neurons.
There are certain ways to tell if you may be affected with the disease through a set of common symptoms. CTE can have a tremendously negative effect on your well being and change your life completely. Some major symptoms include memory loss, difficult behavior and acting out erratically. A person suffering from CTE may also have impaired judgment causing them to make bad decisions.
If you or a loved one is lashing out and having increased aggression or depression, this may be an issue stemming from CTE. There is the possibility this disease may be causing you bodily harm or affecting your financial health. If so, you can consult an attorney for restitution. For example, if this came from a certain injury, you could look into Robins Cloud LLP, an attorney specializing in personal injury cases.
Watching the Signs Closely
An individual who shows some of these symptoms may be misdiagnosed, as it can be confused with simply getting older. This is not the case and the disease can be misdiagnosed with symptoms that relate to Alzheimer’s disease. CTE has been a notable diagnosed disease with many famous NFL players. For example Chris Benoit is a name that comes to mind as he committed suicide after committing heinous acts of murder to his own family.
This is a serious issue to take care of and figure out before it is too late. Major influential doctors have diagnosed professional NFL players. So far, the majority of diagnoses have been done after the person has died from it. Certain studies and advancements have helped doctors become preemptive with their diagnoses and catching the disease before it’s too late.
Some of the diagnosis can be done through testing living patients to find concentrations of the tau protein. These diagnosed tests can figure out an early onset of CTE in people who may be suffering from the disease. Many institutions are working to develop tests for this and eventually a way to treat the condition as well.
Tests Put Into Place
The hope is to be able to use neuropsychological tests to get to the bottom of this through brain imaging and other scans. If you or a loved one is going in for a diagnosis, they’ll cover areas like speech and cognition. You should also be ready to discuss your current mental state as well. Suicidal thoughts and depression can play a huge factor to see if you might be suffering from CTE. Again this is largely in people who have suffered trauma to their heads multiple times.
One of the major tests is through an MRI machine that takes magnetic fields to give a picture of your brain. As these tests improve, you’ll have a better chance to catch an early onset of CTE.
Current Treatment
As this can’t be treated yet, there are no types of medications or other specific targeted treatments right now. An approach to avoid getting CTE in the first place is to avoid any sports or activities that can get you concussed.
You can do some things in the meantime if any of your symptoms act up and you’ve been to the doctor. For one, you’ll want to relax and cut down on any strenuous activity. If the symptoms begin to occur or act up at night, keep everything around you calm and get some well needed rest. Doctors are working hard to get this figured out as it affects many people.
William Austin works in the healthcare industry and enjoys sharing his knowledge on health matters in his online articles. He is a Father of two who, as well as writing, enjoys swimming and oil painting, plus messing around with his kids!
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