In the recent past, the football-related brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, could only be determined by studying the brain at autopsy. ESPN’s reporting examined a new brain scan that can identify signs of CTE in the living. CTE has been linked to memory loss, depression and dementia, and while there is no known cure, diagnosis in the living can help players seeking answers to their cognitive and emotional struggles. It may also accelerate the search for new therapies and preventive measures.
