Concussion – The True Story and Neurological Impacts

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CTE which stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a gradual degenerative disease that affects the brain, it has been discovered in athletes and other non-athletes; patients are characterized with a past experience of repeated head trauma, which includes both symptomatic concussions and asymptomatic sub-concussive head strikes. With its origin dating back to the 1920’s when boxers were known to be affected. However new reports published confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy in football professional players as well as other athletes still in active sports and retired.

This trauma offsets a degeneration of brain tissues which often is progressive and also aids the buildup of an unusual protein known as tau. A change that occurs in regions of the brain during these stages could over a lengthy period of time; months, years, decades and it can end an athlete’s active involvement in sports.

Concussion The Movie

The movie which features Will Smith as he plays the real-life role of Dr Bennet Omalu a Nigerian medical pathologist, who is lived in Pittsburgh, home of the NFL team - Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s a typical frustrating underdog story that depicts the life and struggles of an immigrant. The movie directed by an investigative journalist turned filmmaker Peter Landesman, captures the story of a man that knows absolutely nothing about the sports. After he carried out an autopsy examination on a former player of the team, Mike Webster played by David Morse and discovers an untold cover up that the NFL is behind.

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As many other players’ tragically pass away, Dr Bennet uncovers a disease whose starting point is from football, known as CTE. A truth the NFL doesn’t want to acknowledge. Concussion saw Dr Bennet Omalu as he goes head to head with an organized institution with only a few people on his side; his boss Dr Cyril Wecht played by Albert Brooks, a former team doctor of the team, Dr Julian Bailes played Alec Baldwin, and Omalu’s wife, Prema played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw.

Neurological impact of CTE

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy which was formerly known as dementia pugilistica was believed to affect only boxers because they suffer recursive concussions and traumatic head injuries. But over time there were cases of the progressive degenerative disease in other athletes who engage in contact sports, victims of violent assaults and members of the military. CTE can only be identified by pathological examinations of brains of dead individuals.

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The brain of the individual suffering from CTE deteriorates gradually and over time loses mass; other regions of the brain are prone to atrophy, while another area could become enlarged.

Symptoms and Diagnosis of CTE

Symptoms of CTE can be weakening and have a life-changing effect on both the patient and their family members. Common symptoms associated with CTE includes;

• Difficulty in controlling erratic behaviour
• Memory loss
• Impaired judgment
• Depression and aggression
• Gradual onset of dementia

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Individuals suffering from CTE could be wrongly diagnosed as a result of similarity of symptoms of other medical conditions which are Parkinson’s disease.

Diagnosis

Up until recently, CTE can only be diagnosed via post-mortem examination of a suspected victim’s brain. A recent study seems to have provided a breakthrough in making it possible for the detection of CTE in living test subjects by locating concentrations of a protein known as 'tau' in the brain.

Diagnostic tests can spot symptoms of an early CTE, thus making it possible to screen athletes, military staff and other individuals who may be exposed to developing this ailment.