Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease that afflicts people - often athletes - who have suffered severe and repeated head trauma.
Repeated brain trauma triggers progressive degeneration of brain tissue and/or the build-up of Tau protein that can disrupt the brain’s ability to communicate with other cells. These alterations in the brain can begin months, years or even decades after brain trauma or the end of active athletic engagement.
Common symptoms of CTE include:
memory loss
- confusion
- impaired judgment
- impulse control problems
- aggression
- depression
- suicidal thoughts
- progressive dementia
CTE is induced by repetitive head trauma. That can involve both concussions that cause symptoms and sub-concussive hits to the head that cause no symptoms.
There is currently no reliable way to diagnose CTE. A diagnosis requires evidence of degeneration of brain tissue and deposits of Tau and other proteins in the brain that can be seen only upon examination after death. Researchers are actively trying to find a test to diagnose CTE while people are alive.
More research on the disease is needed but there is general agreement on prevention, namely, to prevent head injuries. It is also important to stay informed about the latest recommendations and tips for detecting and managing traumatic brain injury.
CTE Among Athletes
The NFL reached a settlement in 2017 that will award former professional football players who have suffered head impact and brain injuries throughout their playing s. Compensation for the players ranges from $1.5 million to $5 million based on a doctors’ diagnoses. The NFL has already allotted more than $500 million in claims in less than the first two years under its concussion settlement. That is nearly a decade earlier than league officials estimated.
If you or a family member suffered CTE as a result of an injury or series of injuries, you may have a lawsuit. Kline and Specter, PC, with more than 40 attorneys, five of them also highly skilled medical doctors, handles cases of CTE and severe brain injury.
In one case, the firm obtained a $7.5 million settlement from La Salle University for the family of a football player who endured a severe brain injury in a game. Preston Plevretes was injured after he was cleared to play only a month after sustaining a concussion in practice.
Call us at 800-243-1100 today for a free case consultation. We represent clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and across the nation.