Open AccessChronic traumatic encephalopathy in practitioners of high- impact sports: a systematic literature review
Author(s) -
Lara Lopardi de Souza Leite,
Bárbara Gazolla de Mendonça,
Carolina Falconi Amorim,
Flávio Welinton Martins Cruz,
Gustavo Cosendey Portes
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
DOI - 10.5327/1516-3180.656
Subject(s) - chronic traumatic encephalopathy , football , medicine , athletes , neuropsychology , systematic review , concussion , disease , incidence (geometry) , physical therapy , psychology , medline , injury prevention , cognition , poison control , psychiatry , environmental health , pathology , political science , law , physics , optics
Background: The chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease, in the class of the tauopathies, related to a repetitive exposure to minor head traumas. Manifests severe behavioural changes and cognitive decline, however it is diagnosed posthumously. Researches demonstrate the frequent occurence of the disease in practitioners of high-impact sports such as boxing and american football. Objectives: The review aims to relate the incidence of CTE in practitioners of high-impact sports. Design and setting: Systematic literature review based on neuropathological findings of sports practitioners in the USA. Methods: Systematic literature review based on quantitative and qualitative data from articles found in the Scielo and PubMed plataforms. Results: In boxing 66% of serious injuries are caused by cranioencephalic impacts and the manifestation of symptoms of CTE often appears in retired professionals with more than 50 years. Furthermore, there is na important correlation between the number of matches and tomographic findings from neuropsychological evaluations. As for the american football, a study published in 2017, with a sample of 93 participants, inferred that the risk of neurodeterioration increases with every 1000 impacts (a game season is equivalent to 545 impacts). Conclusion: The studies demonstrated a direct association between CTE and regular concussions in boxing and american football athlets. Considering the relevance of the theme, it is necessary to expand the studies to support care and preventive measures of this disease or even delay the neurodegeneration, ensuring a better life quality for the athletes.