CTE: A Progressive Disease Caused by Repetitive Head Impacts with Ann Mckee

Professor Ann Mckee has spent untold hours looking at the brains of former NFL players under the microscope.  She has found that nearly all of them exhibit abnormalities characterized by the presence of multiple islands of degenerating neurons surrounding small blood vessels. The affected neurons contain an abnormal (hyperphosphorylated) form of the protein Tau. The severity of the brain pathology is correlated with how long the individual played football and so the cumulative number of hits to the head they experience. CTE pathology occurs prominently in the prefrontal cortex a brain region that is important for control of emotions, working memory, and decision-making. Prior to their death these players exhibit behavioral abnormalities including outbursts of anger, confusion, poor decision-making, and depression. Dr. Mckee talks about her efforts to: understand how the disease develops, how it might be diagnosed early in the disease process, and potential ways of reducing risk for and treating this devastating brain disease.

Links:

Boston University CTE Center: https://www.bu.edu/cte/about/leadership/ann-mckee-md/

PBS Frontline documentary ‘League of Denial’: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=league+of+denial

CTE Diagnosis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8166432/pdf/NEUROLOGY2020137927.pdf

CTE in NFL players: file:///Users/markmattson/Downloads/jama_mez_2017_oi_170072%20(1).pdf

CTE neuropathology: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5028120/pdf/nihms810306.pdf