Scientists conducted a PET scan in living National Football League (NFL) players who displayed certain cognitive and behavioural symptoms. They found that these players had Abnormal levels of tau protein in the brain regions which are usually affected by Chronic Traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Further, there was a significant positive correlation between more years spent playing tackle football and the levels of the tau proteins.

Currently, CTE can be diagnosed only post mortem and this is the first study, which shows that it can be detected even before death. CTE is associated with progressive neuronal loss and this study could help us catch it earlier.

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Scientific publication: Boston Medical Center (via ScienceDaily)
Scientific publication: NEJM