Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is the result of repeated and traumatic brain injury.
The condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease which afflicts the brain of people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The term encephalopathy derives from Ancient Greek en- “in,” kephale “head,” and patheia “suffering.” Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a condition of brain damage which persists over a period of years or decades and which is the result of traumatic impacts to the cranium.
The brain of an individual who suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy gradually deteriorates and will over time end up losing mass. Certain areas of the brain are particularly liable to atrophy, though other areas are prone to becoming enlarged. Another aspect of CTE is that some areas of the brain experience an accumulation of tau protein, a substance which serves to stabilize cellular structure in the neurons but which may become defective and subsequently may cause major interference with the function of the neurons.
Symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
The symptoms of CTE can be debilitating and may have life-changing effects for both the individual and for his or her family. Some of the most common include loss of memory, difficulty controlling impulsive or erratic behavior, impaired judgment, behavioral disturbances including aggression and depression, difficult with balance, and a gradual onset of dementia. An individual with CTE may mistakenly ascribe the symptoms to the normal process of aging, or might receive a wrong diagnosis due to the fact that many of the symptoms are similar to other conditions such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. CTE has been diagnosed in several notable cases which received widespread media attention, including the suicide deaths of NFL player Junior Seau, and professional wrestler Chris Benoit who committed suicide after murdering his wife and son.
Diagnosing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Brain Injury Research Institute doctors Bennet I. Omalu, M.D. and Julian Bailes, M.D. were the first to diagnose CTE in a professional football player in 2002. The condition has so far only been diagnosable through the post-mortem examination of the brain of an individual suspected of suffering from CTE.
A recent UCLA study may lead to being able to diagnose CTE in living test subjects, by identifying concentrations of tau protein. With diagnostic tests which can identify the signs of early onset CTE, it would be possible to screen those who are at risk for developing this condition so as to safeguard their future health and happiness.
To learn more go to Protect The Brain
Today is January 3, 2016. I can feel the effects of CTE
What terrifies me is that soon I may not be able to be an advocate for myself. And I have been all alone in this ugly hostile little world here in Moore County, North Carolina.
I was thinking of how many times I was injured, even just from when the horses were dumped here on December 5, 2014 until when I was in the First Health Moore Regional Emergency Room on January 26,2015 because of yet another head injury, and the ER docs thought I might have had a stroke and they did a Cat Scan.And because my military I.D. had expired in June of 2013, the hospital administrators were saying I had no medical insurance and they were about to deny me medical care, and I had very sporadic cell phone service, so I called Athy Conigliaro and asked that she contact USAF Medical Officer Lt. Col Elliot Pinero (who is a medical doctor), so that he could straighten out the insurance, which Pinero did.
About an hour later, as I was just coming from having the Cat Scan, I got a call from Lt Col. Pinero, he knew why I was in the ER, he knew that this was not remotely the first head injury, he knew about the alarming loss of weight, he knew about the abuse, the violence and the conditions of the home, the lack of money or facilities for the animals… and that I was being injured and very likely going to continue to be injured by 1000 lb animals. Pinero knew I was over 60 years old and that Arthur controlled 100% of my finances. Pinero knew that I had a mountain of Arthur’s debt and obligations and no credit, savings or assets of any kind.And USAF Medical Officer Lt. Col. Elliot Pinero did absolutely nothing, and same with the entire chain of Command of the Langley AFB Med Group in Hampton Virginia. From October 15, 2014 until today, January 3, 2016 they have done absolutely nothing for me.
And I have been injured many many times since January 26, 2015.