On Friday, November 4, 2016, Gianna Homes will host our annual gala at the new U.S. Bank Vikings Stadium. Our “new play” this year features a keynote address by Jordan Leopold, a Minnesota native who knows firsthand the Risks of the Game. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (or CTE) is becoming a serious concern for many athletes. He has partnered with the Minnesota Brain Alliance to speak out about concussions and the impact they have left on him. As others like him continue to progress in their dementia, we know that the team at Gianna Homes will be able to provide loving care.
You may wonder, What is CTE?
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Explained
The condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was formerly believed to exist primarily among boxers, and was referred to as dementia pugilistica. It is a progressive degenerative disease which afflicts the brain of people who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries, such as athletes who take part in contact sports, members of the military and others. The term encephalopathyderives from Ancient Greek en- “in,” kephale “head,” and patheia “suffering.” Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a condition of brain damage which persists over a period of years or decades and which is the result of traumatic impacts to the cranium.
The brain of an individual who suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy gradually deteriorates and will over time end up losing mass. Certain areas of the brain are particularly liable to atrophy, though other areas are prone to becoming enlarged. Another aspect of CTE is that some areas of the brain experience an accumulation of tau protein, a substance which serves to stabilize cellular structure in the neurons but which may become defective and subsequently may cause major interference with the function of the neurons.
Image from http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-08/does-cte-brain-disease-found-nfl-players-really-exist