positron emission tomography

Ex-Chiefs Johnson Fears CTE; Researchers Pursue Tests

Former Kansas City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson, 46, says serious memory lapses and episodes of disorientation while driving have led him to fear he has CTE, which he has suspected for years; the disease can currently be confirmed only after death, so his symptoms do not establish a diagnosis. Researchers are working on ways to detect CTE in living people, including PET scans, which could help identify those at risk and guide treatment.