Former Australian rules player, Heather Anderson, has made history as the first known professional female athlete to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease commonly associated with contact sports. Anderson, who played seven games for Adelaide in the Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW) competition in 2017, tragically took her own life at the age of 28 in November 2022.
In a groundbreaking development, Anderson’s family donated her brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank (ASBB) for further research. The findings, which were published on Tuesday in the prestigious Springer Medical Journal, revealed significant evidence of CTE.
According to the researchers, the neuropathological discoveries in Anderson’s brain meet the current diagnostic criteria for low-stage CTE. In an article co-authored by ASBB director Michael Buckland, the authors emphasized that while Anderson is the first female athlete to be diagnosed with CTE, she will unlikely be the last.
During her sports career, Anderson, who also served as a medic in the Australian defense force, participated in rugby league alongside Australian rules football. The examination of her brain revealed multiple CTE lesions and abnormalities throughout her cortex. Buckland, who personally observed the findings, expressed that the similarities to male CTE cases were striking.
He further noted that the diagnosis represents a significant milestone in comprehending the impact of contact sports on women’s brains. As more women actively engage in contact sports, the revelation of CTE in a female athlete serves as a clear warning sign. Buckland emphasized that an increasing number of CTE cases among women could be anticipated.
The groundbreaking research conducted on Anderson’s brain sheds light on the potential risks faced by female athletes who participate in contact sports. The findings highlight the importance of further investigation and heightened awareness surrounding the long-term effects of such activities on women’s brain health.
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