Scientists Find Blood Biomarker That Could Diagnose CTE in Living People
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis identified a blood protein fragment, eMTBR-tau243, that is elevated in advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The test is not yet validated and could not reliably detect early-stage disease, the team said.
Scientists find blood biomarker eMTBR-tau243 that identifies advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a step toward diagnosing the brain disease in living people, according to a study in the medical journal JAMA Neurology.
CTE is caused by repeated head trauma and is especially common in collision and contact sports such as American football, rugby and football. At present it can be diagnosed only after death, by examining brain tissue.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis found a protein fragment in blood, eMTBR-tau243. It is elevated in Alzheimer's disease and in other brain diseases that share the same type of toxic protein buildup, including CTE.
What the study found
The team tested blood from 11 people whose CTE was confirmed at autopsy. Their levels of eMTBR-tau243 were higher than in healthy people and rose with the severity of the disease.
The test could separate people with advanced CTE from healthy people with high accuracy. It could not reliably identify early-stage CTE.
The test has not yet been validated for diagnosing CTE.
"We are potentially opening a new door for diagnosing and treating CTE in living patients," said Kanta Horie, co-senior author of the study.
The scientists say that if large studies confirm the findings, clinicians could use such a blood test to monitor people at risk. It could also enable trials of drugs that might help the condition.
Neuroscientist Chihiro Sato, who co-authored the study with Horie, urged caution. "This is not going to be a standalone biomarker," she said. "But if someone has a history of repeated head injury, tests negative for Alzheimer's and this biomarker comes up, it might be CTE."
CTE in sport
CTE remains a major concern across science and sport. In one recent study of nearly 400 NFL players whose brains were donated after death, 93.5% showed evidence of CTE.
More than 350 NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE after their deaths. They include Mike Webster, a hall of fame center; Junior Seau, whose 20-year career included two Super Bowl appearances; and Frank Gifford, a former MVP and prominent broadcaster.
Legal action is continuing from several living former rugby union and league players diagnosed with Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome, including England World Cup winner Steve Thompson. The boxer Ricky Hatton received a mild CTE diagnosis after his death.
Earlier this year, the Professional Footballers' Association recommended that professionals should not head a ball more than 10 times a week in training. It also advised that children under 12 should not head the ball at all, as part of a CTE prevention protocol.
