Brain scanning technique can shed light on CTE before death

According to a latest study conducted by the NorthShore Neurological Institute, Illinois, a brain scanning approach can be used to find out about the people suffering from concussions in the sport of football or others. The ailment called CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy is, as of now, only detectable posthumously.

During the research, the scan of 14 retired football players for CTE unveiled that there was an abnormal protein deposited in their brain in a kind of pattern which was similar to the one with the autopsy of disease.

Athletes and sportspersons disease

CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy is the disease that leads to brain degeneration that continues to progress. This is specifically prevalent in the sports persons or athletes who have been exposed to blows on their head or concussions time and again. The symptoms of this disease include progressive dementia, depression, aggression, confusion and even memory loss.

There is no cure to this disease as of now. However, the research says that detection of this disease, which was earlier believed to be known only after death, can be found out through brain-scanning techniques, at the early stages as well. At early stages, there would be higher chances of success of the experimental treatments.

Athletes’ retirement decisions might get affected

The detection of this disease at the early stages will not just give an insight into how life can be saved and their experimental treatments, but also help the athletes in deciding their retirement age. The co-director of the aforementioned institute, Dr. Julian Bailes presented the results of this study in a paper which was released by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

University of Pittsburgh’s Dr. Joseph Maroon says that the research, of which he was not a part, will be a “major step” in the detection of CTE before patient’s death.