An 8-Year multi-site research project to develop methods of diagnosing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) during life and to examine potential risk factors for this degenerative brain disease. This project, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health, is studying 240 male participants, ages 45 - 74, including: 120 former National Football League (NFL) players, 60 former college football players, and 60 healthy “controls”. Baseline evaluations of all participants are complete. Four-year remote follow-up evaluations are currently taking place. The DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project has the following goals:
To collect and analyze neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers for the detection of CTE during life.
To characterize the clinical presentation of CTE.
To examine the progression of CTE over a three year period.
To refine and validate diagnostic criteria for the clinical diagnosis of CTE.
To investigate genetic and head impact exposure risk factors for CTE.
To share project data with researchers across the country and abroad in order to expedite growth in our understanding and treatment of this disease.