25 Year Old Football Player Diagnosed with CTE Posthumously
Following his tragic death as a result of an infection and heart attack, a 25 year old former college football star had definitive markers showing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE. Rewind two decades to where it all began; a six year old boy expressed interest in and began playing football. As a father myself, it is difficult to imagine telling your son or daughter no to such a simple request! Knowing what I know now, I cannot fathom the regret, pain and destruction this seemingly innocent decision has.
Understanding CTE and What Is Happening
CTE signs and symptoms can be elusive, and mimic symptoms of other illnesses. CTE is the result when the tau proteins in our brains no longer support their normal cell function. Tau proteins move nutrients and other essential elements from one area of a cell to another. After repeated or severe head trauma, tau proteins can begin to change. Imagine crumpling a piece of paper and flattening it out again – the paper is still there, but it will never look or function the same. The tau proteins begin to form tangles, impacting their function and also impeding the transport system within a cell itself.
Symptoms of brain injuries will vary depending on where the injury occurs. When tau protein changes are happening in the brain, it begins in the prefrontal cortex, located in the area we know as our forehead. This part of the brain governs emotion, behavior and decision making skills. Because CTE can only be concretely diagnosed after death, the fact that the signs and symptoms are somewhat ambiguous is just fuel on the fire. For this 25 year old victim, his CTE evidence was irrefutable, with over 10 different areas of his brain showing the tau protein malformations. This was the first time in history where such a profound case of CTE was found in such a young individual.
Symptoms of CTE
There is no treatment or cure for CTE at this time. The first step is for us as a society to recognize the problem in the medical community and begin to research and study more widespread to identify symptoms and work towards treatment or a cure.
Identifying the potential signs and symptoms of CTE for you or a loved one is critical.
- Depression
- Confusion
- Memory Loss
- Suicidal thoughts
- Abusive behavior
- Aggression
- Depression
- Headaches
- Blurred Vision
- Insomnia
- Neck Pain
- Tinnitus
- Anxiety
- Speech problems
If you or a loved one suffered repeated injuries and concussions, call me immediately. As your Ohio injury attorney, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities.” You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 877.944.4373.
