title: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: contributions from the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with repetitive brain trauma (RBT). Initially described in boxers, CTE has now been found in other contact sport athletes with a history of RBT. In recent years, there has been tremendous media attention regarding CTE, primarily because of the deaths of high profile American football players who were found to have CTE upon neuropathological examination. However, the study of CTE remains in its infancy. This review focuses on research from the Centre for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) at Boston University.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study reviews the formation of the CSTE, major CSTE publications and current ongoing research projects at the CSTE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The neuropathology of CTE has been well-described. Current research focuses on: methods of diagnosing the disease during life (including the development of biomarkers), examination of CTE risk factors (including genetic susceptibility and head impact exposure variables); description of the clinical presentation of CTE; development of research diagnostic criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome; and assessment of mechanism and pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current research at the BU CSTE is aimed at increasing understanding of the long-term consequences of repetitive head impacts and attempting to begin to answer several of the unanswered questions regarding CTE.
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, Boston University School of Medicine , Boston, MA , USA .
authors.forename: David O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Clifford A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cantu
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001900:Boston; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014495:Universities; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Aggression; cognition; concussion; dementia; dementia pugilistica; depression; neurodegeneration; sub-concussive trauma; tauopathy; traumatic brain injury