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'''Chronic traumatic encephalopathy''' is a disease of the human [[brain]].  It is caused by repeated blows or injury to the brain over time.  Diagnosis is confirmed by an autopsy examination of the brain after death.  There is no known cure, but available data suggests that the disease can be avoided by avoiding and minimizing brain trauma.  The disease was previously called ''dementia pugilistica'' because it was the diagnosis given to punch-drunk boxers.

'''Chronic traumatic encephalopathy''' is a disease of the human [[brain]].  It is caused by repeated blows or injury to the brain over time.  Diagnosis is confirmed by an autopsy examination of the brain after death.  There is no known cure, but available data suggests that the disease can be avoided by avoiding and minimizing brain trauma.  The disease was previously called ''dementia pugilistica'' because it was the diagnosis given to punch-drunk boxers.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy has been diagnosed in athletes who have participated in [[boxing]] and [[football]].  Recently, there are reports of CTE in athletes who play [[baseball]], [[rugby]] and even [[soccer]] players who repeatedly "head" the ball.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/sports/soccer/researchers-find-brain-trauma-disease-in-a-soccer-player.html?action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article|title=Brain Trauma Extends to the Soccer Field|first=John|last=Branch|date=Feb. 26, 2014|work=New York Times}}</ref> Between 2008 and 2010, the bodies of twelve former professional [[NFL]] football players underwent postmortem evaluations for CTE, and all of them showed evidence of the disease, indicating a conservatively estimated prevalence rate of 3.7% among professional football players if no other players who died during this period had CTE.<ref>Gavett, B. E.; Stern, R. A.; McKee, A. C. (2011). "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Potential Late Effect of Sport-Related Concussive and Subconcussive Head Trauma". Clinics in Sports Medicine 30 (1): 179–188, xi. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2010.09.007. PMC 2995699. PMID 21074091.</ref> As of December 2012, thirty-three former NFL players have been diagnosed [[post-mortem]] with CTE, including former [[Detroit Lions]] lineman and eight-time Pro Bowler [[Lou Creekmur]],<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/cste/case-studies/lou-creekmur/ Case Study: Lou Creekmur], Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Accessed August 17, 2010.</ref> former [[Tennessee Titans|Houston Oilers]] and [[Miami Dolphins]] linebacker [[John Grimsley]],<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/cste/case-studies/john-grimsley/ Case Study: John Grimsley], Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Accessed August 17, 2010.</ref> former [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] guard [[Tom McHale (American football)|Tom McHale]],<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/cste/case-studies/thomas-mchale/ Case Study: Thomas McHale], Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Accessed August 17, 2010.</ref>

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy has been diagnosed in athletes who have participated in [[boxing]] and [[football]].  Recently, there are reports of CTE in athletes who play [[baseball]], [[rugby]] and even [[soccer]] players who repeatedly "head" the ball.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/sports/soccer/researchers-find-brain-trauma-disease-in-a-soccer-player.html?action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&module=MostEmailed&version=Full&region=Marginalia&src=me&pgtype=article|title=Brain Trauma Extends to the Soccer Field|first=John|last=Branch|date=Feb. 26, 2014|work=New York Times|accessdate=Accessed February 28, 2014}}</ref> Between 2008 and 2010, the bodies of twelve former professional [[NFL]] football players underwent postmortem evaluations for CTE, and all of them showed evidence of the disease, indicating a conservatively estimated prevalence rate of 3.7% among professional football players if no other players who died during this period had CTE.<ref>Gavett, B. E.; Stern, R. A.; McKee, A. C. (2011). "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Potential Late Effect of Sport-Related Concussive and Subconcussive Head Trauma". Clinics in Sports Medicine 30 (1): 179–188, xi. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2010.09.007. PMC 2995699. PMID 21074091.</ref> As of December 2012, thirty-three former NFL players have been diagnosed [[post-mortem]] with CTE, including former [[Detroit Lions]] lineman and eight-time Pro Bowler [[Lou Creekmur]],<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/cste/case-studies/lou-creekmur/ Case Study: Lou Creekmur], Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Accessed Accessed February 28, 2014.</ref> former [[Tennessee Titans|Houston Oilers]] and [[Miami Dolphins]] linebacker [[John Grimsley]],<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/cste/case-studies/john-grimsley/ Case Study: John Grimsley], Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Accessed Accessed February 28, 2014.</ref> and former [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] guard [[Tom McHale (American football)|Tom McHale]].<ref>[http://www.bu.edu/cste/case-studies/thomas-mchale/ Case Study: Thomas McHale], Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy. Accessed February 28, 2014.</ref>

==References==

==References==