Deni Wilson

Ms. Walters

Sports Medicine, Period 2

16 Aprill 2019

CTE Summaries: Science of CTE

CTE is a disease in the brain. For some context on the science of the disease you need to know

the basics of a cell. ​The cell has 3 main parts which are the cell body, the axon, and the axon

terminal. The Axon is the part that is involved in the CTE. Neurons in the cell communicate with

each other through the axon. They send signals through the axon. The signals go to all different

parts of the brain. There is also another tool to send signals. Which are microtubules. Though

they are fragile and more susceptible to concussions. Axons are also the weakest part of the

neuron, so they would be damaged first in a concussion. Because these tubes are so weak there is

a protein called TAU to help support these tubes. Though in diseased brains these proteins TAU

cause everything to fall apart instead of stay together. This can cause the microtubules to break

down causing the TAU to float around and clum together. As the clumps form and grow they

spread and begin a process called prion spread. Scientists have found out that TAU spreads in a

specific pattern in CTE. Scientists believe, because it takes so long for the clumps to spread the

symptoms take long to show up. Taking a long time to infect the brain and change the brain's

functions. The biggest question scientists are trying to figure out right now is. How do we

diagnose CTE in a living person? When we figure that out we can begin treatments and therapy

to help patients that are struggling with the disease. Scientists are now working on tests such as
the Positron Emission Tomography (PET scans), which scans the brain for TAU proteins, and

where the chemical settles in the brain.