CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY: A DISEASE THAT AFFECTS AMERICAN FOOTBALL PLAYERS/ENCEFALOPATIA TRAUMATICA CRONICA: DOENCA QUE AFETA OS JOGADORES DE FUTEBOL AMERICANO/ENCEFALOPATIA TRAUMATICA CRONICA: UNA ENFERMEDAD QUE AFECTA A LOS JUGADORES DE FUTBOL AMERICANO

American soccer, a high-performance sport in the United States since the 1990s, reveals the emergence of problems resulting from violence in this sporting environment. The presence of mechanical shocks to the skull can result in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), considered a neurodegenerative syndrome. The prevalence and incidence of the disease are higher in the brains of National Football League (NFL) athletes, as well as amateurs and compared to non-athletes who have low rates. This article is a systematic integrative literature review and used the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and Pubmed to access scientific information on the following keywords: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy; American Football; Brain Concussion. The analysis included articles (last 5 years) in English and only one in Portuguese, including risk factors, observational studies, diagnosis, prevalence and incidence of CTE. In addition, the criteria for identification, selection, eligibility, inclusion and exclusion were followed. The studies point to the relationship between exposure to mechanical impacts in sport and the manifestation of encephalopathy, given that the high incidence of CTE is in NFL players, especially in the running back position. As a result, teams have adopted the strategy of changing their players' positions as a way of reducing physical strain. In addition, the low blood flow in the brains of athletes has been noted, as has the reduced life expectancy of this group of people who suffer from the syndrome, and the disease can be recognized using interleukin-6 (a sensitive biomarker). The existence of a protein called tau hyperphosphorylated perivascularly in neurons in the cortex of the brain is also a factor in the diagnosis of CTE. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in American soccer shows a constant prevalence regardless of the means of performance in the professional or amateur career, due to vulnerability to shocks and violent impacts on the head. Keywords: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy; american football; brain concussion. O futebol americano, esporte de alto rendimento nos Estados Unidos desde os anos 90, revela o surgimento de problemas consequentes da violencia nesse meio esportivo. A presenca de choques mecanicos no cranio pode resultar em Encefalopatia Traumatica Cronica (ETC), considerada uma sindrome neurodegenerativa. A prevalencia e a incidencia da doenca sao maiores nos cerebros de atletas da National Football League (NFL), assim como aos amad