A case-control study has found that an imaging technique is able to detect chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) early.

A specific type of PET imaging was able to detect a pattern of tau protein deposition in brain areas responsible for mood, fear, stress, and cognition. Julian Bailes from North Shore University Health System said the pattern was different from neuropathological pattern seen in Alzheimer's disease.

"These promising results provide the basis for a larger trial to determine the scope of this imaging procedure for CTE and for the use of the PET imaging technique to monitor disease progression in follow-up studies", said Bailes.

Researchers said that currently, there is no way to diagnose CTE in vivo. The problem takes place due to the accumulation of tau proteins that manifest in cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms. The problem happens due to cumulative brain damage from repeated traumatic brain injury.

Now, the new research has unveiled that the disease has an ordered and predictable progression. For the study, the researchers have used their tracer [F-18] FDDNP in PET scanning to identify tau buildup in 14 retired American football players who had concussions.

Their scans were compared with those from 28 healthy controls and 24 patients with Alzheimer's. The researchers realized that the players' neuropathological patterns were consistent with models of concussion.

The models of concussions have early axonal damage to white matter tracts, cumulative axonal injuries and cortical brain circuitries supporting mood, emotions and behavior.

The researchers also found that this deposition pattern is bit different from the pattern in Alzheimer's patients. The pattern seen in CTE patients was consistent with tau distribution seen in autopsies of patients having a history of mild traumatic brain injury and autopsy confirmed diagnosis of CTE.