CTE Testing

Robert Blease

CTE

• Chronic traumatic encephalopathy • Memory Loss, Confusion, Depression,

eventual progressive dimensia• Tau Proteins

Past Detection

• Was only able to be done posthumously • Stained tissue using amino acids• Reacts with tau protiens

New Detection

• Radioactive tracer dye injected (FDDNP)• PET Scan

Scans

Advantages

• Allows for immediate detection• Will protect future athletes and organizations• Will allow for a treatment to form• Could help with cross treatment of

Alzheimer's and dementia

References• BU Center for Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy <

http://www.bu.edu/cste/about/what-is-cte/>• William Weinbaum, Former Players want in on CTE study <

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9975540/researchers-inundated-requests-former-college-pro-football-players-tested-cte >.

• Sean Conboy, New test could be NFL's Breakthrough in Battle Against Concussions

• <http://www.wired.com/playbook/2013/01/pet-scan-cte-test/> • http://kottke.org/13/01/possible-test-for-cte-in-living-patients• http://www.diagnosticimaging.com/molecular-imaging/fddnp-pet-

shows-brain-injury-former-nfl-players• http://www.caltechcancer.org/node/166