Female professional athlete diagnosed with degenerative brain disease C.T.E.
Researchers have reported that, for the first time, the degenerative brain disease C.T.E. has been diagnosed in a female professional athlete. The athlete, Heather Anderson, was an Australian rules football player who passed away last year. According to a paper published in Acta Neuropathologica, Anderson was found to have had C.T.E.
The report highlights the need for awareness and measures to minimize traumatic brain injuries in female contact sports, as the representation of women in professional contact sports continues to grow. The researchers anticipate that more cases of C.T.E. will be identified in female athletes due to their greater susceptibility to concussion.
Anderson had been playing Australian rules football since the age of 5 and competed in the top women’s league for the Adelaide Crows. Unfortunately, she retired at the age of 23 due to a shoulder injury and died by suicide at the age of 28. Her family confirmed one concussion during her career, with four more suspected but not formally diagnosed.
Her father, Brian, expressed both surprise and lack of surprise at the diagnosis. He hopes that this report will bring attention to the issue and its potential impact on female athletes.
C.T.E. is a degenerative brain disease that can lead to depression, memory loss, and changes in personality, including aggressive behavior. It is more severe in athletes who have competed in contact sports for an extended period of time. The condition can only be diagnosed posthumously, and Anderson’s family donated her brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank for research.
Researchers discovered three lesions on Anderson’s brain, indicating early-stage C.T.E., as expected given her young age.
The vast majority of C.T.E. cases have been found in men, particularly those who have participated in contact sports for many years. Some well-known athletes who were diagnosed with C.T.E. include Junior Seau, Ken Stabler, Frank Gifford, Mike Webster, Andre Waters, and Aaron Hernandez.
In comparison, only a few cases of C.T.E. have been previously found in women, and this is the first instance in which a professional female athlete has been diagnosed with the condition.
Women’s contact sports, such as rugby, are experiencing a surge in popularity in many regions. In 2017, a top-flight Australian rules league for women was established, with Anderson playing in its first grand final.
As the prevalence of female contact sports continues to rise, it is crucial to recognize and address the risks associated with traumatic brain injuries in order to protect the well-being of female athletes.