January 31^st 2024 is CTE Awareness Day.

CTE is a type of dementia in which many repeated injuries to a person’s head can lead to a loss of neurons and their connections over time. It is thought that brain vibration, inflammation, or a person’s genetic profile may play a role in the development of CTE dementia.

Athletes in contact or collision sports such as all codes of football, equestrian, boxing, wrestling, basketball and ice-hockey may be at risk of both concussion and repeated head trauma.

Those with risk of falls such as older persons or the frail, in the military, farmers and livestock handlers, or those at risk of violence may sustain concussion.

Those with concussion and a history of repeated head trauma may experience:

• nausea
• headache
• fatigue
• mental clouding or confusion
• double vision
• dizziness
• sleep and mood changes
• memory loss
• word-finding difficulty, slurred speech
• noise and light sensitivity
• visual blurring or sparkles
• numbness.

Avoiding concussion can be socially challenging. It can be helpful to discuss options with your doctor for reducing time in your environment of risk, and seeking support.

If you wish to make an appointment with your GP, click here.