CTE isn't just an NFL story, and a diagnosed concussion isn't the only warning sign. Dr. Jonathan Cherry explains how years of repetitive impacts may quietly change the brain, and why researchers are racing to find a way to detect it during life.

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Jonathan Cherry discuss his research into understanding how repetitive head injuries cause progressive brain changes and their work to learn how to detect the disease during life. They break down the difference between CTE and concussions, explain who is more likely to get CTE, and explain the links between CTE and other cognitive diseases.

Key Takeaways:

• While it's only been talked about for the last 20 years or so, the first research on CTE was done in the 1920s on boxers.

• There is currently no way to diagnose CTE in life. TES is being used as a way to diagnose people in life with symptoms of CTE, but at this time, CTE can only be diagnosed after death.

• While contact sports are one of the biggest contributors to CTE, it is not the only way to get it. CTE has also been seen in the brains of those afflicted by domestic violence and those in the military.

"CTE is from a history of repetitive head injury, and a concussion is essentially the damage as a result of one injury." — Dr. Jonathan Cherry

Connect with Dr. Jonathan Cherry:

Professional Bio: https://www.bumc.bu.edu/camed/profile/jonathan-cherry/

Website: https://cherrylab.science/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cherry-phd-80117695/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=g3ztmrwAAAAJ&hl=en

PubMed: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/10iEdlxiameAD/bibliography/public/

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

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