As someone who has been disabled by Multiple Concussion Syndrome since 2001, I understand your concern. I choose to not worry about if and when I may develop CTE. Instead, I focus on current efforts to keep my brain as healthy as possible. I watched by father deteriorate from Chronic Ischemic Dementia. His progression was very slow until his last three years. He was driving until that period. He was limited in his driving but did not let on since he did most of his driving solo.

I had not read that CTE was caused by a build up of tau protein plaques. I just understood it to be identified by the severe atrophy of the brain mass. The loss of brain mass is imageable by MRI.

I frequently struggle to get names of family to arrive at my lips. I don't let it bother me. By accepting it as what it is, my stress level stays low and I can continue on. I understand how frustrating it can be to look at a family member and have to 'stop to think' to recall their name.

My father had no recollection of our names for his last two years and struggles with our names for many more. He kept a card with our names on it handy. In later days, we would have to announce ourselves by name. He would then be able to remember our names for the duration of our visit. He was ambulatory until his last two months such that he was at the gym until February. He was communicative until early April. He passed on May 10, 2006 at 78.

I have observed others with the same slow decline until a very fast decline the last 6 months.

An important thing I have learned by observing my father is quite simple. As soon as you start noticing even an infrequent dysfunction, learn as many work-arounds and accommodations for that and similar dysfunctions as possible. The key point is that as your brain deteriorates, it loses its ability to learn new skills and habits. My father learned to use lists long before he could only function with lists. He has this habit so well trained into his behaviors that he was able to use these skills up to his last two months.

A similar issues is with mobility. If one stumble or struggles with balance and such to walk, learn to use a walker as soon as possible. Developing the motor skills to maneuver a walker early makes it so one can use a walker long after the ability to learn motor skills is lost.

I never learned to use lists because I had a photographic memory until my Jan 16, 2001 injury. When I tried to use list as taught and instructed by OT's, I could not remember to write things down. I still try to use lists but often forget the idea before I find my pen or pencil. Or, I forget to even consider writing it down.

Please feel free to post your struggles. Plenty of people have work-arounds and accommodations to help with those struggles.

We are all here for you.

My best to you.