Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers | May 3, 2025 | Personal Injury
CTE, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, is a degenerative disease that affects people who have had multiple concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries. As a degenerative disease, CTE cannot be reversed. The condition will slowly worsen and eventually prevent the normal function of the brain.
Researchers believe repeated brain injuries can cause an abnormal tau protein to build up in the brain and interfere with neuron function. Not everyone who has experienced multiple brain injuries develops CTE. For those who do, the condition can lead to advanced dementia.
The Causes of CTE
Repeated concussions and non-concussive impacts cause CTE. It takes more than a few hits to the head to put a person at risk for CTE. Most people who are diagnosed with the condition have suffered hundreds or even thousands of impacts over many years or decades.
People who play contact sports where head impact is frequent, such as boxing or football, have a high risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Military personnel who serve in combat zones and are exposed to repeated blasts. Victims of interpersonal violence, such as domestic abuse, are also at risk.
Medical researchers estimate that around 17% of those who suffer mild traumatic brain injuries and repetitive concussions will develop CTE. It is still unclear why some people who receive multiple head impacts develop the condition and some do not. Genetics, as well as environmental and lifestyle factors, may play a role.
How Is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Diagnosed?
CTE can only be diagnosed after someone has died. The characteristics that define CTE are found during autopsy. A person could die from another cause, such as a car accident, without knowing they have the condition.
If CTE is suspected in a living person, their medical provider could rule out other potential causes of their symptoms through diagnostic testing. However, chronic traumatic encephalopathy can only be confirmed after death.
There is hope that special types of imaging studies can be used to observe protein patterns in the brain and diagnose CTE in living patients in the near future.
What Are the Symptoms of CTE?
The symptoms of CTE are similar to those of other neurological conditions. Because of the similarities, CTE may be mistaken for Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, and other forms of dementia.
Symptoms include:
- Erratic behavior
- Loss of impulse control
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating, shortened attention span
- Impaired judgement
- Mood disturbances such as depression, aggression, and anxiety
- Poor muscle control
- Suicidal ideation
CTE is a degenerative disease, so the symptoms of CTE will worsen with time, even if the person gets treatment and never experiences another brain injury.
Treatment and Management for CTE
There is no treatment to reverse the brain damage CTE causes. Some medications can address symptoms such as confusion, mood disorders, and memory loss. Minimizing symptoms can help CTE patients maintain a quality of life.
Without a history of repetitive head traumas, most people would have little reason to suspect they have CTE. Even people who are at risk for CTE may not realize their symptoms are anything more than normal aging. When this is the case, symptoms may be undertreated or not treated at all.
Living with CTE can have a devastating impact on the individual and their loved ones. Changes in personality, cognitive skills, and emotional regulation can make it impossible for a person to work or interact socially. They may even have difficulty maintaining relationships with family members.
CTE management includes awareness of suicide risk. The lack of impulse control related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy could lead to dangerous risk-taking and acting on suicidal thoughts.
If you are living with someone who is at risk for CTE, take threats of suicide seriously. Call 911 and wait with the person until help arrives.
CTE Vs. Alzheimer’s Disease: What Is the Difference?
Though they present similarly, there are major differences between CTE and Alzheimer’s disease. The first symptoms to arise with Alzheimer’s disease are usually memory problems. The early symptoms of CTE are more likely to involve reasoning, aggression, and impulse control.
Both conditions involve a buildup of abnormal tau protein, but the pattern of buildup in CTE is unique from other brain diseases that also involve tau.
Also, symptoms of Alzheimer’s typically begin later in life than CTE symptoms, which can appear as early as a person’s forties.
Can You File a Personal Injury Claim for CTE?
You can file a personal injury claim for CTE under certain conditions. Sports players may be legally entitled to compensation if it can be proven that their head traumas were caused by neglect or that they did not receive proper medical care from their team or league.
Military personnel may also have a right to file a claim against the government if their injuries were caused by some type of neglect.
The medical costs related to CTE can be astronomical. Patients may need 24-hour nursing care, ongoing therapies, and other costly treatments to maintain a quality of life.
The best way to learn if you are eligible for compensation is to speak with a personal injury attorney.
An attorney will evaluate your case and advise you on your legal rights.
If there is strong evidence supporting your claim, you may be compensated for:
- Medical costs, including medications
- Therapies, such as physical therapy or mental health treatment
- Assistive devices
- Home health care
- Skilled nursing care
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
Family members may also be entitled to compensation if their loved one dies from CTE. A brain injury lawyer will guide you through the process of filing a claim.
Seek Help if You’re at Risk for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
If you have suffered multiple concussions, you may be at risk for CTE. Speak with a medical doctor who treats brain injuries to learn about your options. Though there is no cure, treatment can help lessen the impact of symptoms and help you live a more fulfilling life.
If your doctor suspects CTE, schedule a consultation with a personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to financial compensation, which can help provide the medical and emotional support you need to manage CTE long term.
Contact the Personal Injury Lawyers of Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers in La Jolla, CA, for Help Today
For more information, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Pines Salomon Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
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