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Concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

Concussions are typically considered “traumatic brain injuries” (TBI), and while most are mild in nature, even a single concussion can increase the risks, and potential complications, of more serious concussions in the future. Long-term complications of multiple concussions may include Alzheimer’s, early-onset dementia, Parkinson’s, and similar degenerative cognitive disorders, and one of the most concerning effects is one we still know little about: chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

This condition generally refers to “the degeneration of brain tissue caused by repeated head trauma,” and symptoms can be severe and may include:

  • Aggression
  • Cognitive/sensory difficulties
  • Dementia
  • Physical impairments
  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior

For now, CTE can only be diagnosed by examining the brain in sections after death, which is why our knowledge of the condition is limited. However, a number of deaths (some of them suicides) of well-known professional athletes, particularly in hockey, football, and boxing, have shed more light on this condition and the very real dangers of sustaining multiple concussions in contact sports, especially as an increasing number of former NFL players are reportedly suffering from symptoms of CTE.

If you’ve suffered any kind of concussion or head trauma in an accident, seek a full medical evaluation as soon as possible to identify any obvious and underlying damages and obtain a proper diagnosis. This is even more important if you’ve suffered a second concussion before an initial concussion has fully healed, as this can lead to a fatal condition known as “second-impact syndrome” (SIS).

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to negligence, contact 844 See Mike for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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