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Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: neurodegeneration following repetitive concussive and subconcussive brain trauma
Baugh CM, Stamm JM, Riley DO, Gavett BE, Shenton ME, Lin A, Nowinski CJ, Cantu RC et al.. Brain imaging and behavior, 2012-06-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease thought to be caused, at least in part, by repetitive brain trauma, including concussive and subconcussive injuries. It is thought to result in executive dysfunction, memory impairment, depression and suicidality, apathy, poor impulse control, and eventually dementia. Beyond repetitive brain trauma, the risk factors for CTE remain unknown.
Key findings
- It is thought to result in executive dysfunction, memory impairment, depression and suicidality, apathy, poor impulse control, and eventually dementia.
- Beyond repetitive brain trauma, the risk factors for CTE remain unknown.
- CTE is neuropathologically characterized by aggregation and accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau and TDP-43.
- Recent postmortem findings indicate that CTE may affect a broader population than was initially conceptualized, particularly contact sport athletes and those with a history of military combat.
Why it matters
This review describes chronic traumatic encephalopathy as a neurodegenerative disease thought to be caused at least in part by repetitive brain trauma, with hyperphosphorylated tau and TDP-43 accumulation. It is about CTE, not Alzheimer's disease, and does not report a treatment, cure, or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Brain imaging and behavior) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Brain Imaging and Behavior: journal h-index 89 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 486 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 30.4 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 34.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 46 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Robert A. Stern: h-index 96 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22552850) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Baugh, C. M., Stamm, J. M., Riley, D. O., Gavett, B. E., Shenton, M. E., Lin, A., et al. (2012). Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: neurodegeneration following repetitive concussive and subconcussive brain trauma. Brain imaging and behavior. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9164-5
Vancouver
Baugh CM, Stamm JM, Riley DO, Gavett BE, Shenton ME, Lin A, et al. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: neurodegeneration following repetitive concussive and subconcussive brain trauma. Brain imaging and behavior. 2012. doi:10.1007/s11682-012-9164-5. PMID: 22552850.
BibTeX
@article{baugh2012-22552850,
author = {Baugh, C. M. and Stamm, J. M. and Riley, D. O. and Gavett, B. E. and Shenton, M. E. and Lin, A. and Nowinski, C. J. and Cantu, R. C. and others},
title = {{Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: neurodegeneration following repetitive concussive and subconcussive brain trauma}},
journal = {Brain imaging and behavior},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1007/s11682-012-9164-5},
pmid = {22552850},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-012-9164-5}
}
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