Causes and Diagnosis
We’ve written in earlier blogs about the increased risks that accompany multiple traumatic brain injuries. One of the conditions that repeated blows or bumps to the head can lead to is known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. If the term sounds vaguely familiar, it’s likely because it has been used often to describe the affliction suffered by football players, boxers and others involved in contact sports.
What Is CTE?
An encephalopathy is a condition where there is either damage or disease related to your brain. An encephalopathy is traumatic if it is caused by isolated and typically external events, such as blows or bumps to the head, or impact with external objects. A traumatic encephalopathy becomes chronic when it is ongoing, rather than occurring once or a limited number of times.
What Causes Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?
Research indicates the CTE is typically the result of repeated concussions or recurring impact/trauma to the brain. It may stem from direct blows to the head, but it can also be caused by whiplash-type injuries, where the brain bounces off the inside of the skull. Common situations where a person may be at risk of CTE include:
- Participation in athletic activities where there may be repeated impact with the head, such as boxing, football, soccer, rugby or martial arts
- Exposure to explosives or concussive devices, often by soldiers in a theatre of war
- Repeated head injuries, either from falls, motor vehicle accidents or physical assaults
How Is CTE Diagnosed?
The symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which may not appear for months or years after head trauma, include:
- Challenges with short-term memory, such as names or phone numbers
- Cognitive difficulties, including problem solving and decision making
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety or sudden agitation
- Confusion or disorientation—Losing track of time, getting lost
Scientists have yet to come up with a test that will definitively diagnose CTE. Medical specialists will typically conduct a thorough assessment, looking at cognitive and motor skills.
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of concussion, TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.
