What should I do if I think I have CTE?

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If you believe you have CTE, it is important to first speak to a doctor. Even if CTE cannot be diagnosed, some of the symptoms of CTE, such as depression, anxiety, or attention problems, can be treated or alleviated with medical help. Additionally, a doctor may find that these symptoms are caused by another issue that is not necessarily related to CTE. It can be helpful to speak to a clinician who may have more specialized knowledge than your general practitioner. This specialist could be a clinician who is familiar with dementia or memory or mood disorders. You should pick a clinician by deciding what symptom or symptoms are causing the most trouble and finding a professional with experience in that field. The actual title of the clinician, whether they are a neurologist, neuropsychologist, or psychiatrist, is not as crucial as their background. Most medical professionals will have their area of expertise or prior work publicly available, and you can use that information to decide if a doctor is right for you. Be aware that while repetitive head impacts cause CTE, it is a degenerative disease and not the same thing as a traumatic brain injury. Therefore, a specialist in head or brain injury (e.g., a neurosurgeon) may not be the best choice unless that person also has a background in CTE. Once you have made your appointment and are speaking to a clinician, make sure they have a good understanding of your background (i.e., history of repetitive head impacts, family history of neurologic or psychiatric illness) so that they can evaluate your risk of CTE. It is also always helpful to bring a loved one or friend who knows you well to the appointment; sometimes they have helpful observations or can help with providing history.