Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: The Aftermath of Playing America's Favorite Sport

Abstract

Millions of children share the dream of becoming a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL), but it is a dream that very few achieve. Some will earn the chance to play in high school, a smaller percentage will be able to play at the collegiate level, and only the best will be chosen to play in the NFL. The athletes who beat the odds and make it to the NFL do not make it by accident. To play in the NFL requires endless years of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. Players give up time with friends and family, holidays, and endure grueling training schedules all to play in the league. The boisterous noise from the crowd, the rush of adrenaline on game day, and the financial stability that comes with being a professional athlete in the NFL is enticing. But, what if the very thing you have been striving for since you were a kid puts you and your future at risk? What if the toll that the beloved game puts on your body is irreversible, leaving you to suffer the detriments of the violent sport long after you exit the field for the final time? This was unfortunately a reality for many former football players who suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions and repeated blows to the head [1]. The types of injuries that lead to CTE are common in American Football [2]. This article will explain the neurological underpinnings of CTE, its psychological and behavioral effects, and how future bioengineering may help identify CTE antemortem.