Erin, Catie, Kira

Professor Rothwell
UWRT
12 March 2015
Outline for Project: Dealing with CTE
Introduction

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that is found in

those who have severe or repeated brain injuries (such as a
concussion). Tau protein builds up in the brain and that is how
scientists are able to diagnose CTE post-mortem after examining

the brain.
We are conducting the study because CTE is a new disease that is emerging and it can
affect many different people. Everyone has a tie to this subject- whether we were former
athletes (who CTE affects the most), know someone who is/ was an athlete, suffered
concussions ourselves, or know someone who suffers/ has suffered a concussion. It is a
big deal because athletics are very popular among our culture and concussions are

becoming more apparent.

The audience should be very interested in this subject because sports (where concussions
and CTE are most prevalent) are so popular among the American Culture. They could be
affected, their parents, their children, their sibling, their friend/ peer, their role model,

their favorite athlete. It is something everyone should be concerned about.

A scenario of how CTE can occur: an NFL football player, who has been playing football
since a very young age, suffers a few concussions during their NFL career (not to
mention any others that could have occurred pre-NFL). Over time and after retirement,
the NFL player is still being affected by the concussions their brain suffered. They notice

that they are experiencing depression and behavioral/ mood changes, memory loss,
impaired judgment, difficulty with coordination and balance, etc. Their doctor tells them
that it is most likely because of the numerous concussions they suffered and that there is
not much the doctor can do. The doctor tells the athlete about the possibility of having
CTE, however, the doctor and athlete would never know for sure until an autopsy is

performed after the athletes death.

Recommendations: safer equipment, possible rule changes to sports to prevent
concussions, decreasing the amount of maximum concussions an athlete is allowed to

have during their whole athletic career.

Background Information: CTE stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Can affect
anyone who has sustained concussions, not just athletes, however it is more present in
athletes. Also known to affect those in the military. It has been found in more Football
players than other sports. It is a progressive degenerative brain disease. There is no cure.
It is extremely hard, if not impossible, to tell if someone has it without conducting an
autopsy after that persons
death. There are a variety
of symptoms, including
early-onset dementia,
behavioral changes,
cognitive changes,
coordination issues, etc.

Background

A report that came out about a year ago discussed that scientists are currently working on
neuro-technology to be able to diagnose CTE while the patient is still living. There is a
current brain bank where many athletes who think they have suffered CTE donate their
brain to the bank for studies and research. This way, scientists can find out more about

CTE.
Special terms: CTE= Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Encephalopathy derived from
Greek words: en=in, kephale= head, and patheia= suffering. A concussion is when the
brain suffers a bruise from a fall or blow to the head.

Method

Research on the topic has been done through medical and sport websites. Interviews will
be conducted with UNC Charlotte Football players (specifically those who have suffered
concussions), UNC Charlotte student athletic trainers, the head football athletic trainer
for UNC Charlotte, and/ or reaching out to athletic trainers of the Carolina Panthers for

further information.
Questions: How many concussions have the football players of UNC Charlotte suffered
since the start-up of the program two years ago? What is the highest amount of
concussions one person has suffered in the past two years? How many concussions does
it take before a person is tapped out and the doctors/ trainers request that the athlete no
longer partakes in the sport? As an athlete, how do you think that concussions can better
be prevented? Do you know what CTE is and the risk factors associated with it? Are you
concerned with CTE at all? Do you personally know of anyone who has battled CTE? If

so, how was their life changed?

Mainly looking to raise awareness and possibly suggest ways to prevent CTE from
occurring for all football players, young and old.