What Is CTE?

Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers | April 21, 2025 | Personal Injury

CTE refers to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a brain disorder caused by ongoing head impacts. CTE slowly kills nerve cells in the brain and gets worse as time passes. This process is called “degeneration.” Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy was first observed by Dr. Harrison Martland in 1928. He described a group of boxers as having “punch drunk syndrome.” Since then, numerous other researchers have observed similar findings

In CTE, it is believed that a brain protein called tau misfolds and triggers nearby proteins to do the same, spreading damage and killing brain cells over time. Currently, CTE can only be confirmed after death through an autopsy. While it has been found in individuals as young as 17, symptoms typically appear years after repeated head impacts begin. 

Head Injuries and CTE

CTE is generally studied in donated brains of the deceased. It is primarily observed in American football players (amateur and professional), boxers, ice hockey players, military veterans who were around explosions a lot, and rugby players. Here are some eye-opening facts about CTE:

• Mass General Brigham studied the brains of 631 NFL players after they died. They found 26% had stage 1 or 2 CTE and 46% had stage 3 or 4 CTE.
• A survey of retired NFL players found that 34% believed they had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Yet another study found that, actually, 99% of the NFL alumni who were studied had the condition, as reported by CNN.
• For every year of American football someone played, their odds of developing CTE increased by 15%. Likewise, for every 1,000 head impacts an athlete experienced playing tackle football, their chance of getting CTE rose by 21%.
• The National Institute of Health found that 75% of the brains they studied with CTE were from American football players. The remaining 1/4 had participated in ice hockey, wrestling, rugby, and soccer. 
• There was no connection between the number of concussions an athlete had experienced and the likelihood or severity of CTE.
• Boston University found that nine out of ten college tackle football players appeared to have CTE.

If you played an impact sport for several years, whether you wore a helmet or got a concussion, it is highly likely that years later, you will develop CTE. 

Symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

It typically takes decades, or at least many years, for TCE symptoms to manifest after the head impacts have occurred. Initial symptoms are very general, come on gradually, and include:

• Personality changes
• Mood changes
• Behavior changes

As CTE progresses, you may observe:

• Confusion, like getting lost going somewhere you know well
• Struggling to make plans or organize
• Short-term memory problems
• Poor coordination

Sadly, the symptoms will continue to worsen as time passes. Even more unfortunate is that there is no cure or effective treatment for CTE.

Can You Sue for CTE?

In 2013, over 4,000 former NFL players reached a settlement agreement with the National Football League for $765 million. The settlement was for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) like CTE and concussions. The NFL did not admit to any wrongdoing. The settlement money was and continues to be used to fund medical research, conduct regular medical exams of retired players, and compensate families of players.

For those who feel they may have CTE but did not play in the NFL, finding a responsible party can be challenging. In order to be held liable, the party would have to know that the ongoing head injuries could lead to this type of injury and not take proper precautions. If your high school football coach did not mandate wearing helmets at practice or put you back in a game against the advice of your doctor after a concussion, that conduct is no doubt negligent. Unfortunately, many with CTE have always taken proper precautions.

A medical malpractice lawsuit may be appropriate in certain circumstances. Perhaps your college hockey team’s doctor only required one day of rest after a head impact. 

Lifetime Cost of a Traumatic Brain Injury Like CTE

While your personal health insurance should cover many of the treatments you’ll need, the reality is that a head injury is expensive, and insurance won’t cover everything. Northwestern University estimates that the treatments, lost wages, and other damages experienced from CTE and other TBIs range from $85,000 to $4 million. People living with CTE face never-ending costs relating to:

• Medication
• Physical therapy
• Long-term care facilities or nursing homes
• Mental health counseling 

Due to the costly nature of this condition, it is worth your while to talk to a brain injury attorney in Hamilton, Ontario.

Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Ontario, Canada

If you need legal help with a personal injury case, contact the team at Findlay Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.

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