Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

CTE is a type of dementia (degenerative brain disease) involving many repeated injuries to a person’s head.  It is thought that brain vibration, inflammation, or a person’s genetic profile may play a role in the development of CTE dementia. 

Those at high risk of CTE are people who have experienced repeated concussive and sub-concussive head impacts over a period of time. CTE is a preventable condition through the avoidance or minimisation of head injury. Good concussion management is likely to be an important aspect of preventative care. 

•  You’re unlikely to develop CTE from only one or a few knocks to the head.
• Repeated knocks to your head damage your brain over time. 
• CTE is often seen in people who have played contact sports or sports with risk of head knocks, experienced assaults, have been in active war zones or exposed   to explosions, and have experienced multiple falls with head knocks. 
• If a person is suspected to have developed CTE, avoiding alcohol, smoking and illicit substances is important to minimise the worsening of symptoms and progression of the disease. 
• There are probable risks associated with people sustaining repeated head knocks and injuries, and drinking alcohol or using illicit substances.