Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a syndrome caused by repeated head trauma resulting in cumulative neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. CTE is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment (executive dysfunction, memory changes), neuropsychiatric symptoms (personality or behavioral changes, depression), and parkinsonism as well as speech and gait abnormalities.
While the incidence of CTE is unknown, it has been well described in populations at risk for repetitive traumatic brain injury (TBI) such as professional football players, boxers, and soldiers in combat. Risk of developing CTE increases with an increased frequency and severity of TBI and with older age.
Symptoms of CTE may not present until years following TBI. Pathologically, CTE is defined by deposition of abnormal tau proteins and degenerative changes that are distinct from other forms of dementia. Diagnosis is made either on a clinical basis (probable) or pathologically from postmortem examination (definite). Prognosis is variable depending on the extent of injury, and recovery is unlikely.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Alerts and Notices
Important News & Links
Synopsis

Codes
ICD10CM:
F07.81 – Postconcussional syndrome
SNOMEDCT:
40425004 – Postconcussion syndrome
F07.81 – Postconcussional syndrome
SNOMEDCT:
40425004 – Postconcussion syndrome
Look For
Subscription Required
Diagnostic Pearls
Subscription Required
Differential Diagnosis & Pitfalls
- Concussion
- Alzheimer disease
- Corticobasal degeneration
- Frontotemporal dementia
- Lewy body dementia
- Neurosyphilis
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Chronic ethanol consumption (ie, alcohol use disorder)
- Lead poisoning
- Multi-infarct dementia
- Depression
- Complex partial seizures
- Autoimmune encephalopathy
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
- Human immunodeficiency virus disease
- Hypothyroidism
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus
- Chronic subdural hematoma
Best Tests
Subscription Required
Management Pearls
Subscription Required
Therapy
Subscription Required
References
Subscription Required
Last Reviewed:08/12/2019
Last Updated:02/06/2020
Last Updated:02/06/2020