Head Hits Reveal Disease

Researchers at the University of Washington found that measuring part of the tau protein in blood may one day help detect chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disorder linked to repeated head impacts that affects football players and others. The study, which examined stored blood samples from 11 people with CTE, found that levels of the marker were higher in those whose disease had reached advanced stages, but it did not reliably identify early cases. The findings are preliminary and need to be confirmed in larger studies. For now, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed by examining the brain after death.

Size: 120%Text Size

Notice: This Is an AI-Generated Summary

Display The Full Article