What is the link between advanced CTE and dementia?

Advanced CTE, specifically stage IV, quadrupled a person's odds of developing dementia, according to a major study.

How often are CTE cases misdiagnosed?

Many CTE cases are misdiagnosed, with about 40% of brain donors diagnosed with dementia during life being told they had Alzheimer's disease, when autopsies later revealed CTE.

Can CTE symptoms be accurately detected during life?

Establishing cognitive symptoms and dementia as outcomes of CTE moves us closer to being able to accurately detect and diagnose CTE during life, which is urgently needed.

Home / Health / CTE Quadruples Dementia Risk: New Study

CTE Quadruples Dementia Risk: New Study

20 Feb

•

Summary

Advanced CTE quadrupled dementia odds, a major study found.
Stage III CTE doubled dementia symptom likelihood.
Many CTE cases are misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease.

A significant study by the Boston University CTE Center provides compelling evidence that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a distinct and devastating cause of dementia. Analysis of 614 donated brains revealed that advanced CTE, stage IV, quadrupled the odds of dementia. Individuals with stage III CTE were twice as likely to exhibit dementia symptoms. This research elevates CTE's status beyond a mere side effect of head trauma to a direct pathway to cognitive decline. The findings, published recently in Alzheimer's & Dementia, underscore the critical need for better in-life diagnostic methods for CTE. Currently, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem through brain tissue examination. The symptoms of confusion, memory loss, and personality changes often mimic other conditions, leading to misdiagnosis. For instance, among brain donors diagnosed with dementia during their lives, 40% were told they had Alzheimer's disease, only for autopsies to reveal CTE and no signs of Alzheimer's.