Preliminary Study Results Validate Elevation of Inflammatory Proteins that Cause CTE

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Feb. 8, 2018 - PRLog -- Alison Epperson, Chief Communications Officer
(515) 210-9453; AEpperson@cte-hope.org

PRELIMINARY STUDY RESULTS VALIDATE ELEVATION OF INFLAMMATORY PROTEINS THAT CAUSE CTE

Indianola, IA (February 8, 2018)—CTE Hope confirms that inflammatory proteins that cause Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) are elevated when an athlete or individual is traumatized by blows to the head, including concussions, and can be measured through saliva in real time.

A saliva concussion study facilitated by CTE Hope, utilized saliva samples taken from Iowa athletes pre-season and those who sustained concussions, to measure the elevation of inflammatory biomarkers and pathological proteins known to cause CTE.   The preliminary results identified a relationship with elevation of some of the proteins at specific time points for the concussed athletes.

"These results are monumental for helping CTE Hope continue our work to protect our athletes," said Brenda Easter, CEO of CTE Hope and mother of Zac Easter, who suffered 6 years with CTE before taking his own life and donating his brain to science.  "Our intention is to encourage athletes to participate in the sports they love, but protect them when most necessary."

The study tested for Total-Tau and four other proteins responsible for several of the signs and symptoms that people experience when suffering from traumatic brain injuries and concussions.  "Understanding the levels of these inflammatory markers not only will help us determine when it's safe to return an athlete to play or school, it may help us develop better treatment protocol in the future," said Mike Hadden, Chief Research Officer of CTE Hope.

While the initial study had a limited number of athlete samples from Simpson College and Indianola High School and a small number of concussions, CTE Hope is expanding the research to include soccer players from Dowling High School, Dallas Center Grimes, and Southeast Polk to name a few, as well as the Iowa Barnstormers arena football team.   "We are glad to participate in this study," said Bernie Brueck, Athletic Director of the Indianola Community Schools.  "Indianola has already taken steps to help protect our athletes with more protective helmets and limited contact in practices but realize there is more that can be done to ensure the safety of our student athletes." The foundation is currently looking for more college and high school participation. "Participation was easy, and I encourage all schools to participate," said Brueck.

The proprietary technology utilized in this study has never been tested with saliva concussion research.  The goal is to create a point-of-care device that can be used in sports leagues, physician offices, and emergency rooms everywhere for proper diagnosis and monitoring of athletes suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBI's) and concussions.  The results will be monumental in determining when and if an athlete can safely be returned to play. Such a device will protect athletes from the long-term consequences of TBI's and concussions and have a long-lasting impact on all levels of sports.

A grant from the Warren County Philanthropic Partnership (WCPP) supported the initial phase of the study but additional funds, in addition to more athletes, is needed to fully validate the results and to develop the point-of-care device.

CTE is a disease that silently kills healthy brain cells.  Today there is no treatment or cure, although many studies are in the works around the country.  "I lost my son to this horrible disease," said Easter. "I don't want another athlete or family to go through what we did."  Teams interested in participating in the study and donors should contact CTE Hope at info@CTE-Hope.org.

About CTE Hope

CTE Hope was created in honor of Zac Easter, a young man who took his life at the age of 24, after living with and suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) for six years. Zac loved football and asked his family and friends to make football a safer sport.  CTE Hope is focused on developing a point-of-care device that can be used at athletic events, emergency rooms, and medical clinics that measures inflammatory biomarkers ensuring an athlete is not returned to play too soon; developing a better return-to-play-learn protocol for athletes; increasing awareness about the dangers of concussions; supporting research that identifies why some athletes are more susceptible to concussions than others; and connecting those suffering with symptoms of CTE with resources, support and hope.