What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy? Could Bear be suffering from it in Emmerdale?

It could be possible
Tamzin Meyer
By Tamzin Meyer

What is CTE?

CTE is a progressive brain condition that is usually caused by repeated blows and injuries to the head, with fans wondering if Bear has the condition in Emmerdale.

CTE is most common in those who play sports often where head injuries are more likely to occur.

The condition can cause brain cell death and lead a person to develop neurological and psychological symptoms.

Symptoms can include mood changes, confusion and short-term memory loss.

In some cases the condition can also lead to dementia.

Bear lashes out at Paddy again in Emmerdale

Does Bear have CTE in Emmerdale?

In recent Emmerdale scenes, Bear has been showing a few worrying behavioural changes.

He’s been easily agitated and seems rather low in mood. He’s also started lashing out his loved ones and other villagers who haven’t done anything particularly wrong.

This pattern is set to continue further in upcoming episodes as Paddy and Mandy grow really concerned about Bear.

With Bear showing several symptoms that could possibly be linked to CTE, it shouldn’t be ruled out.

Especially given Bear’s wrestling background, it is possible that the injuries he sustained throughout his career have caused the condition to develop.

Emmerdale producer on Bear’s mystery storyline

In recent weeks, Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw teased what lies ahead for Bear, while keeping hush about the cause of Bear’s behaviour.

Laura said: “He’s going off screen for a little while.

“He’ll go missing and when he comes back what you’ll see is a very different Bear in a very different situation.”

She then warned: “We’re all going to be watching going: ‘what the hell has happened here?'”

It seems that Bear’s about to be introduced as a very different man to the one we’ve grown to know over the years, but what is the reason behind it? We’ll have to wait and see!