Study Finds Veteran Brain Injury Symptoms Very Similar to CTE

New research seems to indicate that veterans who have suffered brain injuries during combat have signs of brain damage that are very similar to the damage seen in athletes who suffer from of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a condition that is often associated with football players.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy develops as a result of sustained and continuous blows to the head. These injuries are very common among boxers who sustain frequent knocks in the ring. Football players are also much more likely to suffer from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, because of the frequent concussions that they suffer during a typical football career.

However, the disorder has not been linked to veterans until now. Now brain scans of veterans seem to indicate the same signs of brain damage that are found in boxers and players who sustain severe blows to the head over a prolonged period of time. The individual scans show accumulations of tau protein which lead to symptoms like periods of depression, a decline in memory, and rapid mood swings.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a form of dementia called Dementia Pugilistica. It is considered a variant of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and is linked to the deaths of many football players, who died by suicide. At least one football player left a suicide note, asking that his brain be studied for signs of brain damage. The autopsy of a brain can identify the signs of brain damage that are associated with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Veterans in combat can also suffer concussions when they are involved in a car accident or a rollover, travel on bumpy roads or when sustain impact during an explosion or firefight.

For help filing a veterans benefits claim, speak to a California veterans benefits lawyer.