Genetics and Pathology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Abstract

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary and astrocytic tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau, is believed to be one of the pathological consequences of repetitive traumatic brain injury (TBI). CTE has been diagnosed postmortem in numerous individuals, including professional boxers and American football players, with a history of repetitive TBI [1, 2••, 3–7]. Concomitant with the identification of these neurofibrillary and astrocytic tangles are retrospective reports from family members and friends of these individuals of memory problems and personality changes, suggesting that the observed pathological changes may underlie the reported behavioral changes. Multiple animal models have been developed to further explore how repetitive TBI results in these pathological findings and whether these alterations underlie behavioral changes. Defining CTE and Limitations of Diagnosis