Headline: Major Study Aims to Diagnose CTE in Living Patients with $15 Million NIH Grant
Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center, along with other institutions, are launching a groundbreaking initiative aimed at diagnosing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in living individuals, thanks to a $15 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project, titled "The DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project-II," seeks to recruit hundreds of former football players for this vital research.
Notable participants include former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who expressed his commitment to the study, saying he wishes to honor his teammates who took head impacts during his career. “As a former NFL player, I know I am at risk for CTE, but right now I am blessed to be feeling healthy,” Hasselbeck stated, inviting others in contact sports to contribute to this important research effort.
Currently, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem through an autopsy. Researchers aim to identify new disease biomarkers to facilitate early diagnosis and differentiate CTE from similar conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. “This study will create unprecedented data sets needed to accurately diagnose CTE during life,” explained Michael Alosco, a neurology associate professor at Boston University.
The initiative will focus on male football players while also benefiting other groups at risk, including female athletes and military veterans. Participants, aged 50 and older, will undergo extensive neurological and cognitive evaluations, along with brain imaging and blood tests, to identify specific signs and symptoms associated with CTE.
The Concussion Legacy Foundation, led by Chris Nowinski, will spearhead recruitment efforts. The study will target a total of 350 participants, seeking to provide travel support and encourage individuals without prior contact sports experience to join the Concussion Legacy Foundation Research Registry at CLFResearch.org.
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