AFLW player Heather Anderson has been identified as the first known professional female athlete to be diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease. Anderson, who played for the Adelaide Crows in the AFLW premiership, retired in 2017 and tragically took her own life in November 2022 at the age of 28. The Australian Sports Brain Bank conducted a post-mortem examination and found that Anderson had low-stage CTE and three brain lesions.
CTE is a degenerative brain condition that causes specific parts of the brain to deteriorate over time. Symptoms may not initially be noticeable but can include changes in mood, personality, and behavior. As the condition progresses, individuals may experience more noticeable problems with thinking and memory. However, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, as the characteristic changes can only be identified through a post-mortem examination.
Dr. Rosamund Hill, a neurologist based in Auckland, explains that CTE is primarily found in individuals who have experienced multiple concussions or head injuries across a variety of sports. However, the precise risk factors and triggers for developing the disease are still not fully understood. Dr. Hill emphasizes that not everyone who experiences head injuries develops CTE, suggesting that there are likely other factors involved. Genetics, alcohol consumption, medications, and performance-enhancing drugs may all play a role in the development of CTE, although further research is needed to confirm this.
Research on how CTE specifically affects women is limited due to a lack of female brain donations for study. While it is believed that women are not more susceptible to the disease itself, there is concern regarding their vulnerability to the effects of concussions. Factors such as the strength of women’s neck muscles compared to men’s could potentially increase the risk of concussions. Dr. Hill stresses the importance of conducting research to determine if women are at a higher risk of long-term consequences from multiple concussions.
Currently, diagnosing CTE in living individuals is challenging, and long-term studies are necessary to understand the disease better. Most existing research has primarily focused on men, leaving a significant gap in knowledge regarding CTE’s impact on women. Researchers are striving to develop biomarkers that can indicate the likelihood of developing CTE or other long-term brain issues. This would allow medical professionals to provide early warnings and advise individuals to avoid contact sports before irreversible damage occurs.
Ultimately, the hope is to discover treatments that can reverse the brain degeneration caused by CTE. It is important, however, to note that CTE is still considered a rare condition, and people should not be panicked into avoiding sports. Instead, proper concussion management and care should be prioritized to mitigate the risk. The shift towards a focus on player welfare and greater awareness of the potential consequences of head injuries in sports is a promising development.
In conclusion, Heather Anderson’s diagnosis as the first known professional female athlete with CTE brings attention to the need for more research into the disease’s impact, particularly on women. Understanding the risk factors and early indicators of CTE is crucial in safeguarding athletes’ long-term brain health. By conducting comprehensive studies and developing effective biomarkers, medical professionals can better protect individuals from the potential consequences of repeated head trauma.
