2017 Bulletin

Fall Issue

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26 | Bulletin vol. 31 no. 2 Clinical Take Home Points: 1. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease that is associated with exposure to repetitive head impacts, predominantly recurrent subconcussive head impacts like those experienced in American tackle football, boxing, and other contact sports. 2. CTE is not a consequence of a single or even multiple symptomatic traumatic brain injuries, including concussion. However, although a history of repetitive head impacts is a necessary variable to develop CTE, it is not sufficient. Specific variables that increase or decrease risk for CTE are being studied. 3. A constellation of cognitive, behavioral, and mood symptoms have been described as the clinical manifestations of underlying CTE pathology. However, these symptoms are not specific to CTE, and occur in the general population without history of repetitive head impacts. The specific relationship between underlying CTE neuropathology and clinical presentation remains to be determined. 4. "Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome" has provisional clinical research diagnostic criteria that describe a clinical syndrome associated with exposure to repetitive head impacts and proposes biomarker criteria for determining CTE as the underlying etiology. 5. An in vivo diagnosis of CTE is not yet possible because validated biomarkers that can detect underlying CTE pathology with a high degree of certainty do not currently exist. Development and examination of potential biomarkers for CTE is a primary target of current research in this field. Dr. Alosco completed his undergraduate studies at Providence College and he earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology, with a focus in neuropsychology, in 2015 from Kent State University. He completed his clinical internship in neuropsychology at the VA Boston Healthcare System. In 2015, Dr. Alosco was awarded a post-doctoral fellowship at the Boston University (BU) Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and CTE Center through the NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Translational Research Training Program (T32-AG036697). In 2016, Dr. Alosco transitioned to a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) F32 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to continue his advanced clinical research training at the BU AD and CTE Center. Dr. Alosco's research focuses on risk factors and biomarkers of neurodegenerative conditions, with a focus on AD and CTE. Dr. Alosco is particularly interested in the contribution of cerebrovascular disease to the clinical and neuropathological presentation of AD and CTE. He is additionally involved in research examining the relationship between exposure to repetitive head impacts and long-term neurological consequences. Dr. Alosco plays a critical role in several large-scale in vivo and ex vivo studies on AD and CTE at the BU AD and CTE Center. Dr. Alosco has accumulated >100 peer- reviewed publications, has written numerous book chapters, serves as an ad-hoc reviewer for several journals, and has received several honors and awards. Megan Mariani graduated from the University of Delaware in 2016 as a double major, with a B.S in Neuroscience and B.A in Psychology. She has had diverse research experience, allowing her to explore neurocognitive processes in both clinical and healthy populations. Currently, she is a clinical research assistant at the Boston University Alzheimer's Disease and CTE Center. Her specific focus is on The DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project, a 7-year multi-site project funded by the National Institutes of Health. The study is looking to develop methods of diagnosing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy during life and examine potential risk factors for developing the brain disease. She hopes to pursue a doctoral program in clinical psychology with a focus in neuropsychology.

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