Cleomedes of Astypalaea: A possible early sufferer of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Dementia pugilistica was the term adopted by H. Martland in 1928 to identify boxers with cognitive decline. In more recent years, the syndrome of dementia pugilistica with pathological correlates has been defined as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A number of sportsmen have been recently diagnosed with CTE; and we may have identified an ancient Greek athlete of pankration who presented with the symptoms that have been associated with CTE. Our study reports the history and the known clinical information about Cleomedes of Astypalaea, possibly the first athlete ever affected by CTE.