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Severe CTE and TDP-43 pathology in a former professional soccer player with dementia: a clinicopathological case report and review of the literature.

Authors :
van Amerongen, Suzan
Kamps, Suzie
Kaijser, Kyra K. M.
Pijnenburg, Yolande A. L.
Scheltens, Philip
Teunissen, Charlotte E.
Barkhof, Frederik
Ossenkoppele, Rik
Rozemuller, Annemieke J. M.
Stern, Robert A.
Hoozemans, Jeroen J. M.
Vijverberg, Everard G. B.
Source :
Acta Neuropathologica Communications; 5/10/2023, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p1-15, 15p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

In the last decades, numerous post-mortem case series have documented chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in former contact-sport athletes, though reports of CTE pathology in former soccer players are scarce. This study presents a clinicopathological case of a former professional soccer player with young-onset dementia. The patient experienced early onset progressive cognitive decline and developed dementia in his mid-50 s, after playing soccer for 12 years at a professional level. While the clinical picture mimicked Alzheimer's disease, amyloid PET imaging did not provide evidence of elevated beta-amyloid plaque density. After he died in his mid-60 s, brain autopsy showed severe phosphorylated tau (p-tau) abnormalities fulfilling the neuropathological criteria for high-stage CTE, as well as astrocytic and oligodendroglial tau pathology in terms of tufted astrocytes, thorn-shaped astrocytes, and coiled bodies. Additionally, there were TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) positive cytoplasmic inclusions in the frontal lobe and hippocampus, and Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) positivity in the axons of the white matter. A systematic review of the literature revealed only 13 other soccer players with postmortem diagnosis of CTE. Our report illustrates the complex clinicopathological correlation of CTE and the need for disease-specific biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20515960
Volume :
11
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Acta Neuropathologica Communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
163635012
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-023-01572-3