ABSTRACT
Chronic traumatic brain injury (CTBI) associated with boxing occurs in approximately
20% of professional boxers. Risk factors associated with CTBI include increased exposure
(i.e., duration of career, age of retirement, total number of bouts), poor performance,
increased sparring, and apolipoprotein (APOE) genotype. Clinically, boxers exhibiting
CTBI will present with varying degrees of motor, cognitive, and/or behavioral impairments.
The severe form of CTBI is referred to as dementia pugilistica. The diagnosis of CTBI
is dependent upon documenting a progressive neurological condition that is consistent
with the clinical symptomatology of CTBI attributable to brain trauma and unexplainable
by an alternative pathophysiological process. Pathologically, CTBI shares many characteristics
with Alzheimer's disease (i.e., neurofibrillary triangles, diffuse amyloid plaques,
acetylcholine deficiency, and/or tau immunoreactivity). The mainstay of treatment
of CTBI is prevention, however medications used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease
and/or parkinsonism may be utilized.
KEYWORD
Chronic traumatic brain injury - Alzheimer's disease - apolipoprotein E - boxing -
sports neurology - dementia
