First Case Of CTE With No Head Injury History | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

First Case Of CTE With No Head Injury History

Is it possible?

38
First Case Of CTE With No Head Injury History
BeautifulNow

Will Smith knows about it. My mom knows about it. You probably know about it, too. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has gotten a lot of attention in recent years, mostly thanks to the NFL. Commonly associated with repetitive head trauma, CTE is a neurodegenerative (i.e. brain cell destroying) disease that affects the sufferer’s cognitive and emotional faculties, in some cases invoking suicidal thoughts and behavior. As the trendy new neurodegenerative disease, researchers have been clamoring to find out the real cause of the illness in the past decade. Since it was brought into the limelight in 2005, and since its discovery in 1928, CTE has been most strongly associated with head injury. A few days ago, however, it became public that researchers at Toronto Western Hospital found CTE in a deceased patient with absolutely no history of head trauma.

To be more specific, not only did the patient have no history of head trauma, but he/she also did not exhibit any of the symptoms associated with CTE. Despite all this, the neural changes specific to CTE were still found in the posthumous brain.

Previously, we were all under the impression that the changes to the brain that happen at the cellular level classified as CTE were due to physical injury to the cells from an impact to the head. What’s confusing is that that one constant factor is completely absent. Even more confusing is the fact that while CTE is associated with head trauma, you don’t need a history of concussions to present with CTE, some people bang their heads against anything solid and still don’t develop CTE, some develop it later in life, while still others end up dying of effects of CTE in high school. We already knew CTE could affect a wide range of people very differently according to their history and possibly their genes, but how this can extend to someone who had no symptoms or apparent cause is unsettling.

Basically, all this means that we know a lot less about CTE than what we thought. The hope is that continuing research involving postmortem donated brains will continue to yield greater insight, but the more troubling question is whether or not we're looking for answers in the right places.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

196672
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

18713
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

460770
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

28249
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments