In the more than a decade since the first case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was reported in a former NFL player, the neurodegenerative disease has been both the sport’s greatest threat and biggest mystery. Former players openly wonder if they have CTE. Current players ponder the risk-benefit of continuing to play. Parents of future players want to know what the odds of long-term health issues are if they sign their kid up for football.
A new discovery by researchers at Boston University’s School of Medicine may be a breakthrough toward a game-changer for America’s most popular game: The ability to diagnose CTE in living patients, something that is not yet possible.