Understanding Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated blows to the head. Unlike standard concussions, CTE isn’t defined by a single catastrophic collision; rather, it is triggered by an accumulation of sub-concussive impacts and severe concussions over time. These repeated mechanical forces cause an abnormal buildup of a protein called tau in the brain tissue, which disrupts neural signaling and slowly leads to cell death.
Diagnostically, CTE can currently only be definitively confirmed post-mortem, though doctors identify clinical patterns in living athletes through a diagnosis known as Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES) or early-onset dementia.
Combat Sports & Martial Arts Writer| Partnership Marketing and Digital Strategy Lead (Combat Sports)
I have been an avid viewer of Boxing and MMA for almost three decades. Since 2001, I have enjoyed watching the UFC. I hold an academic background in Gerontology from Madonna University, and spent 25 years working across both clinical and non-clinical healthcare settings. But a lifelong passion for writing and martial arts eventually pulled me toward a new chapter. Today, I write for FightMatrix.com. Additionally, I interview professionals in the Combat Sports sector.
