Traumatic Brain Injuries Related to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
Shelby R. Barnhill
Grossmont College

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by hyperphosphorylated tau deposits throughout the brain, specifically in the form of neurofibrillary tangles, astrocytic tangles and threadlike neuropil neurites. Exposure to repetitive brain trauma, including concussions, contusions, and others, most likely result in CTE or other common neurodegenerative diseases. CTE can potentially affect military veterans who were exposed to explosions or other blast related injuries, as well as contact sport athletes with a history of repetitive head impacts. Before research was done on other athletes, it was most commonly found in boxers, and was known as “dementia pugilistica” or “punch drunk”. This disease can be potentially related to over 14 other neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a …show more content…
Bennet Omalu was the first to publish findings on CTE in football players. Although there was former research done on boxers, Omalu became popular because of the horrific light he shed onto the NFL. He performed an autopsy on former Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Webster in 2002, who died of a heart attack at the age of 50 after years of depression and dementia, that eventually led to him becoming homeless and forgetting how to do basic things. This autopsy led to Omalu’s discovery of the disease in the former NFL players brain. Omalu then published his work in 2005, after being harassed and threatened for three years by the NFL. He has testified twice before the United States Congress against the National Football League for their lack of necessary care for the football players. He now works at UC Davis and is praised for his findings, meanwhile he continues to do research on CTE to find more underlying causes and