Kibbey Wagner Injury & Car Accident Lawyers | September 19, 2025 | Brain Injury
Until somewhat recently, few people had heard the term “chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” even though it was first identified in 1928. Back then, it was called “punch drunk syndrome” and was thought to only affect boxers. In the years since, the condition didn’t get the attention it deserved until a paper was published providing the first clear evidence of CTE in a former NFL player.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. While scientists understand the condition a little better now, there’s still no easy way to diagnose it, which can make pursuing a personal injury claim especially challenging for those affected.
What Causes CTE?
CTE doesn’t show up immediately after head trauma. It comes about slowly and can take years or even decades to progress. Someone with CTE can go through their daily life not knowing that things are changing physically and chemically inside their brain. That’s partly because CTE can only be diagnosed during a postmortem examination of the brain.
The injury itself involves a buildup of a protein known as tau. Tau collects in the brain and damages brain cells. Over time, the buildup spreads and can begin affecting how the brain works. Unlike other brain injuries, CTE can only get worse. It doesn’t heal, and there’s currently no cure. Once it starts, the decline continues for the rest of the subject’s life.
CTE is typically linked to repeated head trauma. However, that trauma doesn’t have to be severe. If they happen often enough, even minor head impacts can lead to changes in the brain over time. Car crash victims, especially those who have been in multiple accidents, may be more vulnerable than they would at first appear.
How CTE Can Develop Over Time
CTE is a life-altering medical condition. Those with it often feel like something is off, but they can’t explain what it is. Changes in mood and behavior begin to creep in slowly, and they’re not always obvious. Loved ones are more likely to notice the shift before the affected person does.
CTE doesn’t discriminate, either. It may have come to public attention through studies of football players, but anyone who has taken multiple blows to the head can develop the condition.
CTE is not a regular part of aging, and knowing a patient’s history and risk level can help doctors and researchers track it. But without a way to diagnose it in living people, it remains challenging to study and manage.
CTE Symptoms Can Be Confusing
One of the hardest parts of dealing with CTE is how the symptoms manifest. They don’t always show up immediately after an injury, and the delay can lead to confusion and misdiagnosis. Many people are first told they have depression, PTSD, or even dementia or Alzheimer’s.
CTE symptoms often include:
- Short-term memory loss
- Trouble focusing or paying attention
- Impulsive behavior
- Increased agitation, aggression, or anger
- Depression or anxiety
- Emotional instability
- Suicidal ideation
- Difficulty making decisions
The symptoms get worse as time goes on. In the early stages, someone with CTE might simply seem moody or forgetful. Over the years, however, the changes can become more pronounced. Relationships can suffer, work can become challenging, and daily life can feel overwhelming.
Because the condition develops slowly, it may take time for those affected (as well as their doctors) to connect the dots. Someone may not remember minor car accidents or head injuries they suffered years before, but the damage has been done, and it takes time for it to show up in the brain.
The Long-Term Impacts of CTE
CTE doesn’t just affect the person who has it—it touches everyone around them.
Families watch their loved ones change, sometimes drastically. Friends pull away when they can’t figure out how to help. Careers stall or end. Financial problems often follow. And because there’s no cure, victims are left to manage their symptoms without a clear plan.
This situation can be especially difficult in places where support and resources are limited. Many people don’t know where to turn, and since the condition can only be diagnosed after death, it may be mistaken for another ailment or changing characteristics for years.
Scientists are working on ways to diagnose CTE when the subject is still alive and studying ways to slow its progress. For now, though, the most important thing is awareness. Knowing what to look for and how to make the crucial connection can help patients and their loved ones advocate for the proper care.
CTE Isn’t Just a Sports Problem
Many people think of CTE as something that only happens to athletes. However, every year, more evidence connects the condition to other types of trauma. Military service, domestic violence, and repeated head injuries at work all involve the kind of impacts that can lead to the development of CTE years later.
Even if the affected person doesn’t lose consciousness, damage can still occur. The risk grows if accidents happen more than once. Repeated trauma without an apparent concussion can be an issue, too. In fact, CTE is more often linked to these more minor, repeated injuries than to major, one-time events.
It’s therefore essential to widen the lens surrounding head injuries. Anyone who has experienced repeated head trauma, regardless of the cause, deserves to understand the risk they face. Ignoring it won’t make it go away. Early warning signs may be waved off, but the long-term impact can be devastating.
Keeping CTE on the Radar
CTE is a hidden threat. It doesn’t show up all at once and doesn’t always come from a single significant injury. Instead, it builds over time and affects how subjects think, feel, live, and process the world around them. The damage is gradual, silent, and, for now, irreversible.
It’s vital to understand what can cause CTE, as many different kinds of accidents can cause head injuries. The more people know about CTE, the more likely they are to recognize the potential signs in themselves or their loved ones.
While the condition can’t yet be cured, being aware of it is a powerful first step in making informed choices and getting the necessary support.
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