Early Brain Damage From Sports Hits Seen Long Before CTE

Photo credit: Pixabay via Pexels. News release by NIH Office of Communications. Neuroscience News – September 17, 2025. Research article: Nature.

Summary: New research shows that repetitive head impacts from contact sports trigger early and lasting brain changes in athletes years before chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is detectable. The study found neuron loss, microglial activation, and blood vessel changes in athletes under 51, even in those without tau buildup, the usual CTE marker. These early signatures correlated with years of exposure to head impacts. The findings may help develop future diagnostics and treatments to protect athletes and prevent dementia later in life. […]

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