Understanding the Molecular Progression of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Traumatic Brain Injury, Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability among children and adults in America. In addition, the acute morbidity caused by TBI is implicated in the development of devastating neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative sequela. TBI is associated with the development of a neurodegenerative condition termed ‘Punch Drunk syndrome’ or ‘dementia pugilistica’, and the more recently renamed ‘chronic traumatic encephalopathy’. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a slowly progressive neurodegenerative condition caused by a single or repetitive blow to the head. CTE was first described in boxers and was later found to be associated with other contact sports and military combat. It is defined by a constellation of symptoms consisting of mood disorders, cognitive impairment, and memory loss with or without sensorimotor changes. It is also a Tauopathy characterized by the deposition of hyperphosphorylated Tau protein in the form of neurofibrillary tangles, astrocytoma tangles, and abnormal neurites found in clusters around small vessels, typically at the sulcal depths. Oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and glutaminergic toxicity caused due to the insult play a role in developing this pathology. Additionally, the changes in the brain due to aging also plays an important role in the development of this condition. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms behind the development of CTE, as well as genetic and environmental influences on its pathophysiology.