In recent years, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) disease has become a rising issue. In recent years, chronic traumatic encephalopathy disease has become a rising issue in the medical, sporting, and political sectors. This is because of the theoretical effects of contact sports, which are performed all over the world, in light of the degenerative mental cascade caused by head traumas and concussions. With research revealing a high prevalence of concussions during athletics, athletes in sports where many head injuries have been recorded face a high risk of future psychological health problems. The psychological consequences of this illness are quite concerning since they lead to negative social outcomes and deadly mental health statuses. Currently, there is no known treatment of the condition, which further aggravates the situation. It is therefore imperative that medical stakeholders pay particular attention to this disease to not only develop diagnostic measures and treatments but also to offer preventive solutions to the condition. The research by bodies and institutions such as Boston University will aid in the discovery of measures to mitigate upon CTE and hence improve the safety of sports and the general health outcomes of the country. Also, due to the limited knowledge on this disease, donor funding and organ donation are essential in developing working solutions. Additionally, the government should effectively regulate on sporting safety and return-to-play formulae as well as providing research funding for reducing the prevalence of the disease (Riley et al., 2015).
According to the American Medical Society for sports medicine, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative medical condition that is triggered by repeated concussions which result in a progressive neuronal loss and an eventual pathological cascade. This disease of the brain has significant psychological effects due to the continuous deterioration of the brain function as a result of the accumulation of a hyperphosphorylated protein called tau in areas of the brain that influence emotions, memory, and other functions (Montenigro et al., 2015). These effects are expressly manifested in three stages as the brain damage spreads and inhibits more extensive portions of brain function. Due to the impactful nature of today’s sports such as American football, this disease is projected to affect more people in the near future, and as such, preventive measures and speedy progress in the advancement of diagnostic and treatment technology is of the essence.
Psychosocial Manifestations of CTE
Since its discovery in 2002 by Dr. Bennet, CTE has been diagnosed in many contact-sport athletes through a myriad of psychosocial manifestations. In its first stages, behavioral changes, psychotic symptoms, and mental disturbances are experienced. These are mainly characterized by headaches, dizziness, aggression, violence, irritability, mild depression and impulsiveness as a result of the damage in the brains limbic system (Meehan et al., 2015). The effects negatively alter positive relationships of the patient with his colleagues and family members and may consequently lead to increased conflict and an inability to remain in employment. Additionally, due to the subtle cascade and lack of a diagnosis, these symptoms are mostly overlooked and disregarded as non-consequential psychological disturbances. However, as the stage progresses, the symptoms may be severe.
The Severity of CTE
Also, due to the current inability of medical breakthroughs to provide satisfactory diagnosis and treatment to this condition, the patients exhibit un-inhibited psychological disturbances as reported in many contact sports athletes such as boxers and American football players. The more than 45,000 former NFL players involved in a $765 million legal suit against the football body, is a testament to the extent of this condition and the worry it places on the players who experience the symptoms. The lawsuit settlement entitled the players to baseline medical procedures as well as compensation for concussions that could potentially lead to CTE.
The Threat to Mental Sanity
As the severity of these symptoms increases, the disease progresses into the second phase of the cascade which has reportedly led to a loss of many lives. This stage is mainly characterized by memory loss, erratic behavior, social instability, depression, confusion and initial signs of the Parkinsonism syndrome (Meehan et al., 2015). These symptoms have reportedly led to many suicides, murders, and vicious violence. For example, in December 2012, Ryan Freel a major player in league baseball fatally shot and killed himself in a frenzy of psychosocial disturbance. According to a report, he had multiple concussions throughout his career and was even hospitalized after a collision while playing. After his death, he was diagnosed with stage II CTE. A similar diagnosis was reported in the famous American wrestler Chris Benoit who was involved in a murder-suicide incident involving his son and wife.
Neurological Effects of CTE
Therefore, the second stage of CTE is a significant threat to mental sanity as exemplified by case study research which has established a strong causal link between CTE and suicide in retired NFL players. This is due to diminishing cognitive and psychological capabilities which leads to psycho-social consequences. The early onset of parkinsonism symptoms further aggravates the psychological problems through posture and gait difficulties.
Parkinsonian Symptoms and Dementia
Finally, the neuro-degenerative condition results in parkinsonian symptoms, ocular and speech abnormalities, impaired judgment, memory loss, paranoia and eventually dementia. These psychological effects are as a result of the degeneration of the brain’s occipital cortex and substantia nigra which controls ocular functions and memory. It is important to note that at this stage, the cumulative symptoms through the three stages are at play and the victim is at a risk of total collapse of specific brain functions. According to Boston University Center for the Study of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Sports Legacy Institute, the cascade cannot be treated and can only be mildly controlled through therapy in the hyperbaric chamber (Riley et al., 2015).
Conclusion
In conclusion, CTE is a mental disorder that poses an immense threat to the future mental health outcomes of many athletes. With millions of young people being involved in contact-sports such as rugby, baseball and American football every year, the research bodies should move with speed to develop diagnostic and treatment technologies. This will not only improve the health safety of sporting athletes but will also avoid unnecessary deaths and lawsuits as a result of CTE. According to the Committee on Sports Concussions in Youth, there was an increase in medical emergencies regarding concussions in America between 2001 and 2009. With other reports indicating a present-day tendency not to report sporting concussions, the government and sports stakeholders should endeavor to provide solutions through relevant policies, measures and return to play guidelines.
References
Meehan, W., Mannix, R., Zafonte, R., & Pascual-Leone, A. (2015). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and athletes. Neurology, 85(17), 1504-1511.
Montenigro, P. H., Stein, T. D., Cantu, R. C., & Stern, R. A. (2015). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: historical origins and current perspective. Annual review of clinical psychology, 11.
Riley, D. O., Robbins, C. A., Cantu, R. C., & Stern, R. A. (2015). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: contributions from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Brain injury, 29(2), 154-163.
