Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a disease of the dead. Clinical features suggestive of the degenerative brain disorder — memory loss, decision-making impairments, attention and behavior issues — are seen in former athletes and soldiers and are linked to repetitive head impacts, but a definitive diagnosis is only possible postmortem, through the detection of a buildup of tau protein around brain blood vessels.

A paper published Wednesday, however, could aid efforts to identify biomarkers of the disease before symptoms emerge, so that protective measures can be adopted. Research on CTE over the last several decades, and its diagnosis in star professional athletes, has raised awareness about the risks of concussions and other head injuries, but how they cause brain damage is unclea

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