Dementia pugilistica, also called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, pugilistic Parkinson's syndrome, boxer's dementia, and punch-drunk syndrome, is a neurological disorder which affects some career boxers and others who receive multiple dazing blows to the head. The condition develops over a period of years, with the average time of onset being about 12-16 years after the start of a career in boxing. Parkinsons disease (PD; paralysis agitans) is a neurodegenerative disease of the substantia nigra (an area in the basal ganglia of the brain). ... Neurology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the central and peripheral nervous systems. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortíz Boxing, also called pugilism (from Latin), the noble art , prizefighting (when referring to professional boxing) or the sweet science[1] is a sport and martial art in which two participants of similar weight fight...

The condition, which occurs in people who have suffered multiple concussions, commonly manifests as dementia, or declining mental ability, and parkinsonism, or tremors and lack of coordination. It can also cause unsteady gait, inappropriate behavior, and speech problems. Concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), is the most common and least serious type of traumatic brain injury. ... For other uses, see Dementia (disambiguation). ... Parkinsonism describes the common symptoms of Parkinsons disease - tremor, rigidity, akinesia or bradykinesia and postural instability. ...

It is not well understood why this syndrome occurs (Drake and Cifu, 2004). Loss of neurons, scarring of brain tissue, collection of proteinaceous, senile plaques, hydrocephalus, attenuation of corpus callosum, diffuse axonal injury, neurofibrillary tangles and damage to the cerebellum are implicated in the syndrome, which may be etiologically related to Alzheimer's disease (Graham and Gennareli, 2000). Drawing by Santiago Ramón y Cajal of neurons in the pigeon cerebellum. ... A sketch of the human brain by artist Priyan Weerappuli, imposed upon the profile of Michelangelos David. ... A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... The corpus callosum is a structure of the mammalian brain in the longitudal fissure that connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres. ... Neurofibrillary tangles are pathological protein aggregates found within neurons in cases of Alzheimers disease. ... The cerebellum (Latin: little brain) is a region of the brain that plays an important role in the integration of sensory perception and motor output. ... Etiology (alternately aetiology, aitiology) is the study of causation. ...

Famous sufferers include Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Beau Jack and, more recently, Muhammad Ali, Floyd Patterson (who resigned from the New York State Athletic Commission because of his deteriorating memory), Jerry Quarry, Mike Quarry, Wilfredo Benitez, Emile Griffith, Willie Pep, Freddie Roach, Sugar Ray Robinson, and reportedly Meldrick Taylor (although this is a subject of controversy.) William Harrison Jack Dempsey (June 24, 1895 – May 31, 1983) was an American boxer who held the world heavyweight title between 1919 and 1926. ... Joseph Louis Barrow (May 14 (sources differ), 1914 – April 13, 1981), better known in the boxing world as Joe Louis and nicknamed The Brown Bomber, was a native of LaFayette, Alabama and is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxing champions. ... Sidney Walker, better known as Beau Jack, (April 1, 1921-February 9, American lightweight boxer, he was a world champion twice. ... For other persons named Muhammad Ali, see Muhammad Ali (disambiguation). ... Floyd Patterson (January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American heavyweight boxing champion. ... Jerry Quarry Irish Jerry Quarry (May 15, 1945 - January 3, 1999) was called by some the best heavyweight boxer to never win a world title. ... Mike Quarry (born March 4, 1951-died June 11, 2006) was a light heavyweight boxer. ... Wilfred Benitez (born September 12, 1958), also known popularly as Wilfredo Benitez, is a Puerto Rican boxer. ... Emile Griffith (born February 3, 1938) is a former boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who won world championships in both the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... Freddie Roach (born March 5, 1960 in Dedham, MA) is a boxing trainer and a former boxer. ... Sugar Ray Robinson, born Walker Smith Jr. ... Meldrick Taylor (born October 19, 1966) is a former Olympic gold medalist and world boxing champion in two weight classes. ...

See also

• Traumatic brain injury
• Concussion

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), traumatic injuries to the brain, also called intracranial injury, or simply head injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. ... Your brain floats within your skull surrounded by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). ...

References

• Drake D and Cifu D. 2004. "Repetitive Head Injury Syndrome." Emedicine.com.
• Graham DI and Gennareli TA. Chapter 5, "Pathology of Brain Damage After Head Injury" In, Cooper P and Golfinos G. 2000. Head Injury, 4th Ed. Morgan Hill, New York.
• NCERx. 2005. Brain Trauma, Subdural Hematoma and Dementia Pugilistica. About-dementia.com.