THE DR. VIBE SHOW - DEBRA PYKA - YOU ME AND CTE - SAVE YOUR BRAIN - JUNE 11 - 2018

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease found in people who have had multiple head injuries. Symptoms may include behavioral problems, mood problems, and problems with thinking. This typically does not begin until years after the injuries. It often gets worse over time and can result in dementia. It is unclear if the risk of suicide is altered.

Most documented cases have occurred in athletes involved in contact sports such as American football, wrestling, boxing, ice hockey, rugby and soccer. Other risk factors include being in the military, prior domestic violence, and repeated banging of the head.The exact amount of trauma required for the condition to occur is unknown. Definitive diagnosis can only occur at autopsy. It is a form of tauopathy.

As of 2018, there is no specific treatment. Rates of disease have been found to be about 30% among those with a history of multiple head injuries. Population rates, however, are unclear. Research into brain damage as a result of repeated head injuries began in the 1920s, at which time the condition was known as dementia pugilistica or “punch drunk syndrome”. Changing the rules in some sports has been discussed as a means of prevention.

The Dr. Vibe Show™ and The Good Men Project have been hosting hosting You, me & CTE. You, me & CTE is a series of conversations on and about Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Debra Pyka is an advocate and co-founder of Child Athlete Advocates, Save Your Brainand Faces of CTE. Her son Joseph, a youth and high school athlete died by suicide in 2012 at the age of 25 and was later diagnosed with CTE/brain damage.

During our conversation, Ms. Pyka talked about:

- Some of her background
- The loss her son to suicide due to brain injuries
- If she had concerns about head injuries before her son got involved in sports
- Having no knowledge of CTE until her son died
- The circumstances behind son's death even though her son was diagnosed with a concussion
- The launch March 2016 start of Save Your Brain campaign
- How athletes don't have to have a concussion to have brain damage
- What the reaction did she recieve when she started her campaign
and when she became to get attention and gain momemtum
- Some of the positive changes since the Save Your Brain campaign began
- Her call to action for the: NFL, Youth Football Leagues and parents
- The support of this issue from the medical community

You can contact Ms. Pyka via:

Concussion Legacy Foundation
Concussion Legacy Foundation – Twitter 
Concussion Legacy Foundation – Twitter
Concussion Legacy Foundation – Instagram
Faces Of CTE
Save Your Brain Project – Facebook

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God bless, peace, be well and keep the faith,

Dr. Vibe