Summary
This project aims to study the clinical presentation, biomarker profiles, and risk/resilience factors of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and related dementias by retaining and expanding an existing cohort of former football players and controls.
What they want
The project involves retaining 150 former football players and 50 controls from the previous DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project, and newly recruiting 75 former college/professional football players and 25 controls, plus 50 Aβ+ participants with cognitive impairment. Participants will undergo single-visit clinical exams, social determinants of health (SDOH) measures, MRI, blood draws, and tau PET scans (flortaucipir for retention cohort, MK-6240 for expansion cohort). Blood samples will be analyzed for p-tau epitopes, Aβ40/42, neuroinflammation, and white matter injury. The project will also facilitate continued brain donation and clinical-pathological validation studies.
Deliverables
- Refined traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) criteria
- Differentiation of CTE from other Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (AD/ADRDs)
- Insights into the detection, diagnosis, and prognosis for people living with CTE
Technical requirements
- MRI
- Tau PET (flortaucipir)
- Tau PET (MK-6240)
- Blood analysis for 6 p-tau epitopes
- Blood analysis for Aβ40/42
- Blood analysis for neuroinflammation biomarkers
- Blood analysis for white matter injury biomarkers
