CTE

American  

[see-tee-ee] / ˈsiˈtiˈi /

abbreviation

1. Also called dementia pugilistica.  chronic traumatic encephalopathy: a progressive degenerative neurological disease caused by repeated cerebral concussion or milder traumatic brain injury and characterized by memory loss, behavioral disturbances, speech problems, slowed movement, etc.

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Usage

What is CTE? CTE stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated trauma to the head. The disease is especially prevalent among military veterans and professional athletes like American football players. How is CTE pronounced?[ see-tee-ee ]

Etymology

Origin of CTE

First recorded in 1945–50.

Example Sentences

Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve McMichael, a key member of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX champion team, had CTE, a posthumous study shows.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Their experiments focused on a specific scenario, repeated mild brain injury, and used CTE tissue to provide supporting observations rather than direct proof of cause and effect.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

"In postmortem cortex from neuropathologically confirmed CTE cases with a history of repetitive brain injury, the researchers found evidence of disrupted fatty acid balance and broad transcriptional changes affecting vascular and metabolic pathways," Albayram said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 26, 2026

Michael kept up with the research, according to the Concussion & CTE Foundation, and pledged to donate his brain to be studied after his death.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

"I'm 100% certain there are a lot of people very similar to me, played at the same level - without the doctors - where it was very physical, with potential neurodegeneration and CTE," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026