Researchers at Boston University Medical Center have found a relationship between brain inflammation and the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. First author Jonathan Cherry said, ”This study provides evidence that playing football for a prolonged period can result in long-term brain inflammation and that this inflammation might lead to CTE.” The researchers claim that playing contact sports for an extended period of time may be a prerequisite for the disease. CTE is a progressive degenerative disorder in the brain as a result of repetitive brain trauma.