Researchers have found new ways to spot the risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in boxers and MMA fighters. Learn more about the study findings and implications for professional sports.

New Ways to Spot Risk for CTE in Boxers, MMA Fighters

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Predicting CTE
3. Study Findings
4. Implications for Professional Sports
5. Conclusion

Introduction

Autopsy is currently the only way to definitively diagnose chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease often seen in athletes who’ve suffered repeated blows to the head.

Predicting CTE

But there may be a way to predict which athletes are likely to develop CTE, researchers report June 28 in the journal Neurology.

Study Findings

For the new study, researchers studied 130 active and retired professional fighters in boxing, martial arts and mixed martial arts. They were a part of a brain health study run by the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Implications for Professional Sports

“These findings suggest that this new diagnosis of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome may be useful in professional sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts and may be helpful in predicting who may experience cognitive decline,” study co-author Brooke Conway Kleven said in a journal news release.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to validate the accuracy of these criteria in detecting CTE.