Even novice athletes are susceptible to a degenerative brain disorder associated with repeated head trauma, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Boston University. Out of the 156 brains of athletes under the age of 30 that were examined, 63 were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Astonishingly, 71% of these cases were found in amateur players involved in youth, high school, or college sports. The sports that were implicated in these findings included American football, ice hockey, and soccer.
Furthermore, the researchers identified what they believe to be the first case of CTE in a female athlete in the United States. The patient in question is a 28-year-old collegiate soccer player, although her name has not been disclosed. This discovery follows the recent diagnosis of CTE in an Australian female professional athlete. Dr. Ann McKee, a neurologist at Boston University, presented images demonstrating the contrasting brains of a healthy 27-year-old and an individual afflicted with CTE during the announcement of these findings.
CTE originates from repetitive head injuries, such as those experienced from ball-related impacts, and leads to a buildup of tau proteins in the brain. This buildup negatively affects the communication between neurons and can result in memory difficulties, such as an inability to recall recent events, as well as emotional disorders like depression and anxiety. It is estimated that around 6% of the American population may have CTE, but diagnosis is only possible through postmortem analysis of brain tissue.
For this study, the researchers examined 156 brains from the University’s UNITE brain bank, which is the largest tissue repository in the world. These brains were all donated between 2008 and 2022, and the study exclusively focused on athletes under the age of 30 to avoid any interference from age-related degeneration. The fatalities of the individuals examined were either a result of suicide, which is one of the leading causes of death among those under 30, or drug overdose. The donors ranged from 17 to 29 years old, with an average age of 22. Among them, the majority played American football (60%), while a significant portion were involved in soccer (15%) and ice hockey (10%). Some had also participated in amateur wrestling, rugby, and professional wrestling.
Overall, 40% of the athletes in the study were diagnosed with CTE. It is important to note, however, that the researchers cautioned against generalizing their findings to the entire population of athletes and emphasized that the actual prevalence of CTE among players is likely much lower. It is estimated that 6% of all Americans have the condition, often without their knowledge.
Of the 48 individuals diagnosed with CTE who played football, 37 were amateurs, while 11 were part of the National Football League (NFL). The researchers found that the player’s position on the field did not influence their likelihood of a CTE diagnosis. However, those who had a longer duration of playing time, approximately 2.8 years more, were at a higher risk.
Out of the brains evaluated in the study, 11 belonged to female athletes, with only one 28-year-old athlete displaying signs of CTE. Notably, Dr. Ann McKee, who led the study, stated, “It’s become fairly well recognized that CTE is a risk for high-level elite athletes, especially football players. But it does show that CTE can start in very young athletes who only play amateur sports. This study clearly shows that the pathology of CTE starts early. The fact that over 40 percent of young contact and collision sport athletes in the brain bank have CTE is remarkable.”
The findings of this study were published in the journal JAMA Neurology.
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