TABLE 2.
1. | Difficulty recalling names of familiar people and recent past events. |
2. | Problems with tracking conversations. |
3. | Began losing personal objects. |
4. | Became short-tempered, often felt panicked, was less organized. |
5. | Became fixated on ideas and less interested in activities he previously enjoyed. |
6. | Transformed from a kind, mild-mannered “gentle giant” to a very agitated person. |
a. Exhibited angry outbursts that were out of character. | |
7. | Behaved inappropriately as if “his filter was gone.” |
8. | Evaluated by a psychiatrist, diagnosed with depression, and “probable CTE.” |
Our patient exhibited negative family history for dementia or major psychiatric illness. According to his wife and next-of-kin, he exhibited progressive cognitive decline for many years after retirement from the NFL.