1. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in the National Football League
Katie Transue

2. Introduction What is CTE?
CTE is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head (Boston University)
Repetitive brain trauma triggers the brain tissue to fall apart and cause the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau
Tau begins to form around the brain’s blood vessels, interrupting normal functioning and eventually killing nerve cells (Boston University)
CTE is associated with memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia

3. Introduction
Professional football players receive as many as 1,500 hits to the head in a single season
Researchers at the Department of Veterans Affairs and Boston University have identified CTE in 96% of NFL players and in 79% of all football players.
2015: 199 concussions were diagnosed in the NFL (Frontline)

4. Stages of CTE Stage 1: No Symptoms
Isolated spots of tau build up mostly around the frontal lobe, or the crown of the head
Stage 2: Rage, Impulsivity, Depression
Symptoms begin to appear as defective tau protein affects more nerve cells in the brain’s frontal (top) lobes
Stage 3: Confusion, Memory Loss
Tau deposits expand from the frontal section to the temporal (side) section of the brain
Condition begins to affect the amygdala and the hippocampus, which impairs emotion and memory
Stage 4: Advanced Dementia
By stage 4, the tau deposits have overwhelmed the brain, killing many nerve cells and shrinking it by roughly half its original size
The brain become deformed and brittle, and cognitive function is severely limited

5. Normal Brain vs. Brain with CTE

6. Major Research Findings
League of Denial (2013):
2002: Dr. Bennet Omalu conducted an autopsy of a retired professional football player, Mike Webster.
Not a single paper had been published that described what was going on inside Mike Webster’s brain
Omalu had discovered a new disease that he would later name CTE

7. Major Research Findings
After publishing his findings, the NFL began to discredit Omalu’s research and claimed there was no connection between playing football and long-term brain damage
The NFL refused to listen to people who did not share their opinions about concussion research
“You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you” –Dr. Bennet Omalu

8. End Product
The NFL has a duty to fully inform its employees (the players) about the long-term risks associated with a football career
The end product will be informational posters and brochures
The posters and brochures will be distributed to players at the beginning of each season and put up in locker rooms

9. Expertise Needed My Expertise Team Expertise
Knowledge about new helmet technology
An understanding of NFL player safety rules and regulations
Time management
Photoshop and graphic design skills
Creativity
An understanding of NFL player safety rules and regulations

10. Benefits of this Project
Future, past, and present NFL players and their families will greatly benefit from this project
In a sense, this project could save lives

11. References Boston University CTE Research Center
Breslow, J. (2015, September 18). New: 87 Deceased NFL Players Test Positive for Brain Disease. Retrieved February 9, 2016, from Frontline:
Michael Kirk, M. W.-W. (Writer), & Kirk, M. (Director). (2013). League of Denial: The NFL's Concussion Crisis. [Motion Picture].