CTE Identified in a Living Person for the First Time

A news story on CNN in November 2017 describes how researchers have discovered the first case of a living person who was identified with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Bennet Omalu, who is the lead researcher in the study which was published in the journal Neurosurgery, told CNN that the subject of the case in the study was former NFL football player, Fred McNeill, who died in 2015.

Fred McNeill played for 12 seasons for the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings with one reported concussion. At age 59, McNeill began experiencing problems with his motor skills, so he underwent a brain scan. Scientists found elevated levels of tau protein – the one associated with CTE – in his brain scans. After his death, a detailed analysis of his brain tissue confirmed the condition along with McNeill's physical symptoms.

What are the signs of CTE?

The Brain Injury Research Institute (BIRI) describes chronic traumatic encephalopathy as a progressive, degenerative disease which affects the brains of people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries. The BIRI describes the symptoms of CTE as debilitating and can have life-changing effects for the individual and his or her family including:

• Memory loss
• Difficulty controlling impulses
• Erratic behavior
• Impaired judgement
• Behavioral disturbances such as aggression, and depression
• Difficulties with balance
• Gradual onset of dementia

New technology for diagnosing CTE in living patients

Before now, the only way to diagnose the disease was with an autopsy after the patient's death. Now Omalu and his team of researcher has developed and has invested in a new diagnostic exam which uses a radioactive "tracer" called FDDP to bind to the tau proteins in the brain, making them visible on a PET scan. This has enabled scientists to discover CTE prior to the patient's death so that they can be treated.

Dr. Omalu and his team are raising money to start a phase 3 clinical trial to test the technology, and hope to produce a commercial test that could be available in a few years.

Those most at risk for CTE are people who work in occupations where they are subject to repetitive hits to the head such as boxers, football players, members of the military and domestic abuse victims. The Concussion Legacy Foundation advises that until a diagnostic tool is available for living patients, treating what doctors suspect might be CTE involves identifying the symptoms that are causing patients the most difficulty and treating them with targeted therapies.

Scientists are making amazing breakthroughs in the treatment of concussion and traumatic brain injury. While CTE is not known to be caused by a single traumatic brain injury, the discoveries that researchers are making in the field of brain injury research will likely lead to better treatment options for all brain injuries.

If you or someone you care about has suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident that was a result of another person's negligence, the skilled Maryland injury attorneys of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. are here to make sure that you recover the compensation you need for your injuries and other losses. For more than 35 years, we have fought for the rights of victims and their families. To learn more about how we can serve you, or to schedule your free consultation, please call 410-730-7737 or fill out this contact form.

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