Boston University CTE Center

Thank you to @BU_Tweets and @BUexperts for the new series “CTE: How BU Is Changing the Game.” We are grateful for the opportunity to share a more in-depth look at our research and the work that our team does everyday. And most of all, we are grateful to highlight the critical role of our brain donor families who generously and bravely contribute to this work and continue to share their stories. It is an honor to work with these families and our work is not possible without each and every one of them. We look forward to sharing more as we work toward new milestones and research achievements. Stay tuned to learn more and you can check out the five-part series now at: bu.edu/brink/series/c…

In a new study I co-authored with researchers at Mass General Brigham and @bu_cte, we found something deeply concerning. Former NFL players had lower overall mortality and were less likely to die from cancer or heart disease than the general population. But they were still about 4x more likely to die from brain diseases, including dementia and Parkinson's disease. The risk was even higher among players who died before age 60 and those with longer NFL careers. These findings add to the growing evidence linking repeated head impacts in football to long-term neurodegenerative disease. They also underscore the urgent need for prevention, earlier detection, and continued research to better protect athletes at every level. thelancet.com/journals/eclin…

A huge thank you and congratulations to our departing staff members. We're so happy to have been a part of your journey and are excited to see what you do next!

BU CTE Center's Michael Alosco, PhD, was promoted to BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine professor of neurology. As we celebrate his achievement, Dr. Alosco took a few moments to answer some questions about CTE.

Wishing you all a happy and safe Fourth of July from us here at the BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine!

Jacob Labonte from BU CTE Center is the recipient of this year’s Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease Mark A. Smith Alzheimer Award for his seminal research article “Sex differences on tau, astrocytic, and neurodegenerative plasma biomarkers”. Congratulations, Jacob!

On Social Media Day, we’d like to thank all our followers for your support and for helping us to share important information and resources about CTE research. Want to learn more about what we do? Follow us on any of the platforms listed for updates from the BU CTE Center!

New research investigates the connection between traumatic brain injuries and the risk of developing Parkinson's disease in former soccer players. Learn more in the full study: bit.ly/3QoFHQd

A new DIAGNOSE CTE study suggests that lower myelin levels and stronger brain connections may make certain brain regions more vulnerable to tau buildup and spread in former football players exposed to repetitive head impacts: bit.ly/4vXrzfC

During National #PTSDAwarenessMonth, we have compiled some of the important resources available for individuals with PTSD.

A new study from the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project shows the long-term impacts of repetitive head injuries in former football players, altering the brain’s white matter microstructure even decades later: bit.ly/4aUjwbo

Let's learn more about the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder during #PTSDAwarenessMonth.

As the FIFA World Cup 2026 matches begin today, we hope that all the participating players stay safe out there. To learn more about the potential dangers of contact sports, visit bu.edu/cte

June is National PTSD Awareness Month. Follow along with us this month to learn more about PTSD and its connection to CTE and the veteran community.

Today, two of the BU CTE Center’s very own, Robert Cantu, MD, and Jonathan Cherry, PhD, joined the Canadian Concussion Centre’s 13th Concussion Research Symposium as keynote speakers, speaking to researchers and clinicians from across the concussion and brain injury specialty.

A new study from the BU CTE Center identifies T-cell mediated immune response as a potential key factor in CTE-related neurodegeneration. Learn more at the link here: bit.ly/4dMPWGO

The month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month and individuals living with CTE may struggle with mental health symptoms. Visit the Resources page on our website or visit: bit.ly/bucte_resources

May is ALS Awareness Month, a period dedicated to educating the public about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We are providing resources for those interested in learning more about the realities of this progressive neurodegenerative disorder.

Today is International Clinical Trials Day! You can learn more about BU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center clinical trials here: bit.ly/BU-Clinical-Tr… Learn more about clinical research at the BU CTE Center here: bit.ly/CTEClinicalRes…

Congratulations to the BU CTE Center’s newest graduates, Daniel and Vincent! We’re so proud of you and your accomplishments!

As National #VAResearchWeek comes to a close this Friday, learn more about our research on veterans and CTE.