A study released today from Boston University CTE Center researchers found that, among a sample of 152 young athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts who died before age 30, 41.4% (63) had neuropathological evidence of CTE. The study published in JAMA Neurology includes the first women’s soccer player diagnosed with CTE, a 28-year-old collegiate athlete whose identity remains private.
“This study clearly shows that the pathology of CTE starts early,” said Dr. Ann McKee, director of the BU CTE Center and chief of neuropathology at VA Boston Healthcare System. “The fact that over 40% of young contact and collision sport athletes in the UNITE brain bank have CTE is remarkable – considering that studies of community brain banks show that fewer than 1% of the general population has CTE.”
Nearly all of the young athletes with CTE had mild cases, stages 1 and 2. Three donors showed evidence of CTE stage 3. Families of all athletes included in the study reported clinical symptoms, such as depression, apathy, and difficulty controlling behaviors. Despite all brain donors being symptomatic, nearly 59% of those studied did not have CTE, emphasizing that a contact sport athlete experiencing symptoms does not necessarily have a neurodegenerative disorder.
“The study suggests that some of the symptoms these young athletes are experiencing are not caused by the early tau pathology of CTE,” said McKee. “It is imperative that young athletes who are experiencing neuropsychiatric symptoms seek out care, as it is likely that the symptoms can be reduced with effective management and follow-up.”
