Concussion & CTE Foundation applauds World Health Organization recognition of CTE as a cause of dementia

The Concussion & CTE Foundation applauds the World Health Organization (WHO) for formally recognizing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a disease that can cause dementia in its updated global dementia fact sheet.

For decades, families affected by CTE have fought to have the disease acknowledged as a serious neurodegenerative condition linked to cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and progressive impairment. WHO’s recognition represents an important step toward global awareness, earlier diagnosis, prevention, and support for patients and caregivers.

The updated WHO fact sheet states that dementia results from “a variety of diseases and injuries that affect the brain,” and now includes CTE among recognized causes. This follows a recent study from the Boston University CTE Center showing a robust association between CTE severity and dementia, and the National Institutes of Health updating their website to say that severe CTE is “clearly linked” to dementia.

“Recognizing CTE as a cause of dementia validates what thousands of families have experienced firsthand,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation. “This is not simply a sports issue. It is a global public health issue affecting athletes, military veterans, victims of violence, and others exposed to repetitive brain trauma.”

The Foundation hopes WHO’s recognition will accelerate research investment, improve physician education, reduce stigma surrounding brain disease, and encourage stronger prevention efforts worldwide.

CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease associated with repeated hits to the head, including concussive and nonconcussive impacts. While CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, advances in biomarkers and neuroimaging are rapidly moving the field toward diagnosis during life.