CTE In Athletes Linked To Hits To The Head Even Without Concussions : Shots
Lee Goldstein
"We've had an inkling that subconcussive hits â the ones that don't [show] neurological signs and symptoms â may be associated with CTE " says Dr. Lee Goldstein  an associate professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine and the lead investigator on the study. "We now have solid scientific evidence to say that is so."
"It took us many years to do this "  Goldstein  says. "We see in our animals â even after a small number of hits  even one â very early evidence of pathologies associated with CTE."
And  they noted  the brain pathology was unrelated to signs of concussion in the mice  such as altered arousal and impaired balance.  Goldstein  says the scientists nailed what they wanted to â strong evidence linking head impact to CTE  independent of concussion.
"I want to be very clear on  this " Goldstein  says. "This is in no way to minimize concussions."
Both Bailes and  Goldstein  are a big part of that evolution. Right now  CTE can only be diagnosed after death  but both scientists are working  independently of each other  on a test intended to detect CTE in living brains. Such a test would help determine how widespread the disease is and  beyond that  how to develop treatment.
In the meantime   Goldstein  hopes  his  study finds applications not just in football  but in other sports  like soccer and lacrosse  where contact and collisions include hits to the head.
And beyond sports   Goldstein  says  hits to the head affect the most vulnerable segments of society.  He  has a long list.
"Intimate partners who are having repetitive head injuries "  he  notes " domestic violence victims  homeless  children at risk  people in our prison systems. [With] all of these people  we need to take the focus off concussion and find out if they have injured brains."
"We've had an inkling that subconcussive hits â the ones that don't [show] neurological signs and symptoms â may be associated with CTE " says Dr.  [TGT]   an associate professor of psychiatry at the Boston University School of Medicine and the lead investigator on the study. "We now have solid scientific evidence to say that is so."
"It took us many years to do this "  Goldstein  says. "We see in our animals â even after a small number of hits  even one â very early evidence of pathologies associated with CTE."
And  they noted  the brain pathology was unrelated to signs of concussion in the mice  such as altered arousal and impaired balance.  Goldstein  says the scientists nailed what they wanted to â strong evidence linking head impact to CTE  independent of concussion.
"I want to be very clear on  this " Goldstein  says. "This is in no way to minimize concussions."
Both Bailes and  Goldstein  are a big part of that evolution. Right now  CTE can only be diagnosed after death  but both scientists are working  independently of each other  on a test intended to detect CTE in living brains. Such a test would help determine how widespread the disease is and  beyond that  how to develop treatment.
In the meantime   Goldstein  hopes  his  study finds applications not just in football  but in other sports  like soccer and lacrosse  where contact and collisions include hits to the head.
And beyond sports   Goldstein  says  hits to the head affect the most vulnerable segments of society.  He  has a long list.
"Intimate partners who are having repetitive head injuries "  he  notes " domestic violence victims  homeless  children at risk  people in our prison systems. [With] all of these people  we need to take the focus off concussion and find out if they have injured brains."