From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that arises due to repetitive head trauma. Initially identified in boxers as “dementia pugilistica,” it is now recognized as a nosological entity affecting various occupational and social groups, including contact sp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marta Piotraszewska, Magda Skudzińska, Magdalena Bartold, Maria Irena Grys, Filip Kochański, Janina Pohrybieniuк, Karolina Wołk, Aleksandra Jaskulska, Jan Pietrzak, Dominika Błonka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 2025-07-01
Series:Quality in Sport
Subjects:
Online Access:https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/62438
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850066837610430464
author Marta Piotraszewska
Magda Skudzińska
Magdalena Bartold
Maria Irena Grys
Filip Kochański
Janina Pohrybieniuк
Karolina Wołk
Aleksandra Jaskulska
Jan Pietrzak
Dominika Błonka
author_facet Marta Piotraszewska
Magda Skudzińska
Magdalena Bartold
Maria Irena Grys
Filip Kochański
Janina Pohrybieniuк
Karolina Wołk
Aleksandra Jaskulska
Jan Pietrzak
Dominika Błonka
author_sort Marta Piotraszewska
collection DOAJ
description Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that arises due to repetitive head trauma. Initially identified in boxers as “dementia pugilistica,” it is now recognized as a nosological entity affecting various occupational and social groups, including contact sports athletes, military personnel, and victims of domestic violence. The ante-mortem diagnosis of CTE remains a significant clinical challenge, as current definitive diagnosis relies exclusively on post-mortem neuropathological examination, characterized by deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, their specific distribution, and associated neuroinflammatory and degenerative alterations. Extensive research is underway to identify fluid biomarkers (e.g., NfL, p-tau, GFAP, UCH-L1, S100B) and neuroimaging modalities (e.g., PET, MRI, DTI) that may enable in vivo detection of CTE and differential diagnosis from other tauopathies. The clinical phenotype of CTE is highly heterogeneous, encompassing cognitive, behavioral, affective, and motor disturbances. Emerging evidence suggests the existence of neuropathological subtypes of CTE, which holds relevance for biomarker development and therapeutic strategies. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular pathogenesis, established neuropathological criteria, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, biomarkers, and neuroimaging modalities of CTE, as well as contemporary therapeutic and preventive approaches. The manuscript highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and underscores the need for further research to develop effective ante-mortem diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for CTE.
format Article
id doaj-art-382dd3ff33504d34a2d4257ecb0f6183
institution DOAJ
issn 2450-3118
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
record_format Article
series Quality in Sport
spelling doaj-art-382dd3ff33504d34a2d4257ecb0f61832025-08-20T02:48:38ZengNicolaus Copernicus University in ToruńQuality in Sport2450-31182025-07-014310.12775/QS.2025.43.62438From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTEMarta Piotraszewska0https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0893-0524Magda Skudzińska1https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8747-2562Magdalena Bartold 2https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0863-167XMaria Irena Grys 3https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9182-4040Filip Kochański 4https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4957-8566Janina Pohrybieniuк5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5737-6880Karolina Wołk 6https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9871-4903Aleksandra Jaskulska 7https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8745-9593Jan Pietrzak 8https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4177-5413Dominika Błonka 9https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7946-9294Samodzielny Publiczny Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej w Wyszkowie: Ul. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 1, 07-200 Wyszków, Mazovia, PolandSamodzielny Publiczny Zespół Zakładów Opieki Zdrowotnej w Wyszkowie, Ul. Komisji Edukacji Narodowej 1, 07-200 Wyszków, Mazovia, PolandMaria Skłodowska-Curie Specialist Hospital, ul. Parzęczewska 35, 95-100 Zgierz PolandKarol Jonscher Municipal Medical Centre in Łódź, ul. Milionowa 14, 93-113 Łódź, Poland Maria Skłodowska-Curie Specialist Hospital in Zgierz, ul. Parzęczewska 35, 95-100 Zgierz, Poland Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, wyb. Ludwika Pasteura 1, 50-367 Wrocław Poland Pabianice Medical Center, ul. Jana Pawła II 68, 95-200 Pabianice, Poland Medical University of Lodz: Lodz, ul.Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź Voivodeship, PL Clinic of Foundation „Swoboda" ul. Sosnowa 4, 95-015 Głowno, PLCentralny Szpital Kliniczny: Lodz, ul. Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź Voivodeship, PL Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that arises due to repetitive head trauma. Initially identified in boxers as “dementia pugilistica,” it is now recognized as a nosological entity affecting various occupational and social groups, including contact sports athletes, military personnel, and victims of domestic violence. The ante-mortem diagnosis of CTE remains a significant clinical challenge, as current definitive diagnosis relies exclusively on post-mortem neuropathological examination, characterized by deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, their specific distribution, and associated neuroinflammatory and degenerative alterations. Extensive research is underway to identify fluid biomarkers (e.g., NfL, p-tau, GFAP, UCH-L1, S100B) and neuroimaging modalities (e.g., PET, MRI, DTI) that may enable in vivo detection of CTE and differential diagnosis from other tauopathies. The clinical phenotype of CTE is highly heterogeneous, encompassing cognitive, behavioral, affective, and motor disturbances. Emerging evidence suggests the existence of neuropathological subtypes of CTE, which holds relevance for biomarker development and therapeutic strategies. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the molecular pathogenesis, established neuropathological criteria, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, biomarkers, and neuroimaging modalities of CTE, as well as contemporary therapeutic and preventive approaches. The manuscript highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges and underscores the need for further research to develop effective ante-mortem diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for CTE. https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/62438chronić traumatic encephalopathytauopathyneuropathologyfluid biomarkersimaging biomarkersneuroimaging
spellingShingle Marta Piotraszewska
Magda Skudzińska
Magdalena Bartold
Maria Irena Grys
Filip Kochański
Janina Pohrybieniuк
Karolina Wołk
Aleksandra Jaskulska
Jan Pietrzak
Dominika Błonka
From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE
Quality in Sport
chronić traumatic encephalopathy
tauopathy
neuropathology
fluid biomarkers
imaging biomarkers
neuroimaging
title From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE
title_full From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE
title_fullStr From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE
title_full_unstemmed From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE
title_short From Repetitive Head Trauma to Neurodegeneration: A Comprehensive Review of CTE
title_sort from repetitive head trauma to neurodegeneration a comprehensive review of cte
topic chronić traumatic encephalopathy
tauopathy
neuropathology
fluid biomarkers
imaging biomarkers
neuroimaging
url https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/62438
work_keys_str_mv AT martapiotraszewska fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT magdaskudzinska fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT magdalenabartold fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT mariairenagrys fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT filipkochanski fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT janinapohrybieniuk fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT karolinawołk fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT aleksandrajaskulska fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT janpietrzak fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte
AT dominikabłonka fromrepetitiveheadtraumatoneurodegenerationacomprehensivereviewofcte