Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is associated with a history of repetitive head impacts, such as those sustained through contact sports. Post-mortem assessment has revealed specific neuropathological characteristics related to the condition. The symptoms of CTE typically present several years after exposure and can include mood/behavioural changes, cognitive dysfunction and motor symptoms. The course of CTE can potentially be progressive and debilitating. In this review, we argue, that there is a need for validated neuropathological and clinical criteria in order to detect CTE ante-mortem in the population.