Unit 1.2.6 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Question 1

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

Answer 1

• A progressive and fatal brain disease
• Associated with repeated head injuries and concussions
• Can become fatal

Question 2

Neurogenerative disease

Answer 2

• A disease characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain
• Occurs over time and brain function progressively worsens
• CTE is a neurodegenerative disease

Question 3

Symptoms of CTE

Answer 3

• Headaches
• Depression
• Memory loss
• Agression + suicidal thoughts

Question 4

CTE diagnosis

Answer 4

Diagnosis can only be made through a post-mortem examination

Question 5

How CTE presents in the brain

Answer 5

• Widespread build-up of p-tau
• Resulting in neurofibrillary tangles that disrupt neuronal functioning + eventually lead to the death of neurons

Question 6

Post-mortem examination

Answer 6

• An assessment of a dead body
• Occurs to determine the cause of death

Question 7

Neurofibrillary tangles

Answer 7

• An accumulation of the protein tau that forms insoluble tangles within neurons
• Which then inhibits the transportation of essential substances
• Eventually, kill the neuron entirely