Overview

• Analysis of 174 donated brains showed no elevated phosphorylated tau levels in the hippocampal CA2 region among former high school or college football players.
• Tau accumulation in the CA2 subfield was statistically linked to donors’ age, with higher p-tau presence in individuals who died around age 75 versus those who died near 63.
• Researchers concentrated on the CA2 region of the hippocampus, a memory-related area known to harbor p-tau in normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease and after repetitive impacts.
• Authors warn that subtle tau pathology lacks clear clinical correlation and note that expert consensus groups still struggle to define CTE in meaningful clinical terms.
• Investigators call for larger, clinically correlated studies to disentangle normal aging changes from neurodegenerative effects of head injuries.