UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Late Presentation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in a Former Association Football Player

Cullinane, Patrick W; Wrigley, Sarah; Bradshaw, Teisha Y; Shaw, Karen; Shribman, Samuel; De Pablo Fernandez, Eduardo; Warner, Thomas T; (2023) Late Presentation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in a Former Association Football Player. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice , 10 (9) pp. 1414-1418. 10.1002/mdc3.13829. Green open access

[thumbnail of Movement Disord Clin Pract - 2023 - Cullinane - Late presentation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a former.pdf]
Preview
Text
Movement Disord Clin Pract - 2023 - Cullinane - Late presentation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in a former.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (18MB) | Preview

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by widespread accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau that typically occurs in people who have suffered repetitive head impacts. To date, very few cases have been reported in association football (soccer) players. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinicopathological features of a case of CTE in an 84-year-old former football player who was clinically diagnosed as having dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). METHODS: A retrospective review of the patient's primary care and hospital medical records was performed along with a comprehensive neuropathological examination. RESULTS: This patient presented age 84 with symmetrical parkinsonism and cognitive impairment that was exacerbated by prochlorperazine. His condition was rapidly progressive with recurrent falls within 1 year. Other features included headaches, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, disturbed sleep and aggression. He received a clinical diagnosis of DLB and died approximately 2 years after the onset of symptoms. A post-mortem examination revealed stage 4 CTE. CONCLUSIONS: While the contemporaneous onset of parkinsonism and cognitive symptoms in the context of possible neuroleptic sensitivity is suggestive of DLB, the additional symptoms of aggressive behaviour, depression and suicidality in a former football player are consistent with the neuropathological diagnosis of CTE. This case, which is notable for the late presentation, demonstrates that CTE may masquerade as other dementias and highlights the importance of seeking a history of repetitive head impacts.

Type: Article
Title: Late Presentation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in a Former Association Football Player
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13829
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.13829
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, dementia with Lewy bodies, football, soccer, pathology
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Movement Neurosciences
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10173240
Downloads since deposit
4Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item