We all experience a bit of forgetfulness- forgetting to pick up eggs at the grocery store, where you parked the car, or the exact date of your cousin’s birthday party is normal. Amnesia, however, refers to a large-scale loss of memory that impacts daily life caused by illness, brain injury, or psychological trauma.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, was previously known as dementia pugilistica or “punch-drunk syndrome” for its association with former boxers demonstrating declining ability, memory loss, and lack of coordination. The hallmark risk factor that separates the syndrome from other tauopathies and dementias is repeated trauma to the head, otherwise known as traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. It’s this repeated trauma where things become an issue for contact sports.
There are perfectly reasonable explanations for why people are missing or canceling appointments, but these canceled appointments aren’t just missed appointments: they’re missed opportunities to detect conditions where there is an understanding that early detection can help patients maintain a higher quality of life for a longer period of time.
EEGs – or electroencephalograms – are used to diagnose many neurological conditions. Depending on the condition, your health care provider may order one of four different types of EEGs.
From babies to seniors, follow these practical tips to decrease your risk of a mild to severe traumatic brain injury.