chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Definition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy

: a progressive neurological disease that is found especially in athletes (such as boxers, wrestlers, or football players) who have experienced repetitive, mild injury to the brain and that is characterized by short-term memory loss, concentration deficits, confusion, depression, behavioral and personality changes (such as an increase in irritability, impulsivity, or aggression), speech and gait abnormalities, parkinsonism, and dementia —abbreviation CTE

— called also dementia pugilistica, punch-drunk syndrome

Note: The neurological deterioration of chronic traumatic encephalopathy is accompanied by atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes and accumulation of tau protein in neurofibrillary tangles.

Examples of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The potential for concussions and a study that showed the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased players also were factors in his exit from the football. — David Ginsburg, chicagotribune.com, "Former NFL player John Urschel sells virtue of math to youngsters," 8 Dec. 2020 The potential for concussions and a study that showed the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased players also were factors in his exit from the football. — Fox News, "Former NFL player Urschel sells virtue of math to youngsters," 8 Dec. 2020 The potential for concussions and a study that showed the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased players also were factors in his exit from the football. — David Ginsburg, chicagotribune.com, "Former NFL player John Urschel sells virtue of math to youngsters," 8 Dec. 2020 The potential for concussions and a study that showed the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased players also were factors in his exit from the football. — Fox News, "Former NFL player Urschel sells virtue of math to youngsters," 8 Dec. 2020 The potential for concussions and a study that showed the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in deceased players also were factors in his exit from the football. — David Ginsburg, Star Tribune, "Former NFL player Urschel sells virtue of math to youngsters," 7 Dec. 2020 To determine if the cause was chronic traumatic encephalopathy, his brain was donated to the CTE Center at Boston University, according to his wishes. — Richard Sandomir, New York Times, "Tyler Amburgey, Devoted Hockey Player and Coach, Dies at 29," 17 Sep. 2020 Snuka and Fujiwara died in 2017 and 2016, respectively, and were diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, after their deaths, according to their lawyer. — Dave Collins, Star Tribune, "Former WWE wrestlers' lawsuit over brain damage is dismissed," 9 Sep. 2020 The repetitive concussions generated a condition called post-concussion syndrome (PCS), which can lead to early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s, and ends with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. — Dp Opinion, The Denver Post, "Letters: Recognizing concussion injuries from the battlefields (1/22/20)," 22 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chronic traumatic encephalopathy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

29 Dec 2020

Cite this Entry

“Chronic traumatic encephalopathy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chronic%20traumatic%20encephalopathy. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for chronic traumatic encephalopathy

chronic traumatic encephalopathy

noun

Medical Definition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy

: a progressive neurological disease that is found especially in athletes (as boxers, wrestlers, or football players) who have experienced repetitive, typically minor injury (as concussion) to the brain and is characterized by short-term memory loss, concentration deficits, confusion, depression, behavioral and personality changes (such as an increase in irritability, impulsivity, or aggression), speech and gait abnormalities, parkinsonism, and dementia —abbreviation CTE

— called also dementia pugilistica, punch-drunk syndrome

Note: The neurological deterioration of chronic traumatic encephalopathy is accompanied by atrophy of the frontal and temporal lobes and accumulation of tau protein in neurofibrillary tangles.

… it is only in the past decade that scientists have identified the problem in American football players. They have also been able to identify, on autopsy, pathological markers for the disease, now called chronic traumatic encephalopathy …— Jeffrey Bartholet, Scientific American, February 2012 [Dr. Robert] Cantu said that symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy include depression and erratic behavior, but he declined to speculate on any role the condition played in Benoit's final violent acts.— Alan Schwarz, The New York Times, 6 Sept. 2007