Compare and Contrast Essay CTE

Title: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Thesis: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) traumatically affects athletes who play sports causing them to have symptoms that are similar to Alzheimer’s.

I.Introduction a.Thesis: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) traumatically affects athletes who play sports causing them to have symptoms that are similar to Alzheimer’s.

b.Describe CTE and why it is so prevalent in athletes: i.While athletes in collision sports (football and boxing) may sustain higher numbers of concussive brain injuries, any athlete who may have sustained more than one concussive injury is potentially at risk for CTE.

c.Classifications of CTE: i.An individual could progress through three stages. 1.The first stage starts with manic disturbances and psychotic symptoms.

2. Stage two the individual may suffer from social instability, erratic behavior, and memory loss.

3.Last stage is the initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (McKee, A.C., et.al., 2009)

II.Which athletes are affected the most? a.Although initially seen primarily in professional boxers, cases have been identified in several athletes in diverse sports. According to one article, “of the 51 confirmed cases of CTE, 90% of the cases occurred in athletes” (McKee, A.C., et.al., 2009).

b.statistics from the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) identified that 17 of the 18 deceased contact sport athletes studied showed evidence of CTE (Omalu, B.I.,et.al., 2010)

III.Causes and diagnosis: a.repetitive closed head injuries seem to be the cause of CTE, athletes involved in contact sports may be at risk including athletes in the sports of football, boxing, wrestling, rugby, hockey, lacrosse, and soccer.

b.there are not any specific markers or tests to detect CTE in living athletes. Currently, CTE is diagnosed by studying brain tissue under a microscope after they die.

IV.Prevention: a.Better equipment and education needs to be implemented into sports for coaches and athletes.

b.The prevention of CTE needs to focus on the proper diagnosis and management of athletes who have sustained concussions along with adhering to guidelines before returning to play

V.Conclusion: a.Restate Thesis

b.Describe why CTE is prevalent in athletes

c.Describe prevention measures and diagnosis.

Work Cited

McKee, A.C., Cantu, R.C., Nowinski, C.J., Hedley-Whyte, E.T., Gavett, B.E., Budson, A.E. Santini, V.E., Lee, H., Kubilus, C.A., & Stern;, R.A. (2009). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology 68:7, 709-735.

Omalu, B. I., Hamilton, R. L., Kamboh, M. I., DeKosky, S. T., & Bailes, J. (2010). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a National Football League Player: Case report and emerging medicolegal practice questions. Journal of forensic nursing, 6(1), 40-46.