New Innovative Imaging Technique Used for Diagnosing CTE in Athletes

Results of a study published in the April 6, 2015, online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the Unites States of America (PNAS) has shown that a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan can help researchers diagnose Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in contact sport athletes who are exposed to repetitive brain injuries.

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA; Los Angeles, CA, USA) used PET exams together with a chemical marker to test a number of retired US National Football League (NFL) players for the accumulation of an abnormal proteins in the brain.

The researchers found that the distribution of the abnormal proteins in the PET scans showed a “fingerprint” characteristic of CTE. The scans also showed that the brain imaging pattern of people suffering from concussions differed significantly from those of healthy people.

The results could help doctors better identify brain disorders in athletes, and find new treatments to help delay the symptoms and progress of CTE, and prevent significant brain damage.

Julian Bailes, one of the authors of the study, said, “We found that the imaging pattern in people with suspected CTE differs significantly from healthy volunteers and those with Alzheimer’s dementia. These results suggest that this brain scan may also be helpful as a test to differentiate trauma-related cognitive issues from those caused by Alzheimer’s disease.”

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