Dwell
Adelaide AFLW premiership participant Heather Anderson is the primary recognized skilled feminine athlete to be recognized with the degenerative mind illness persistent traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Anderson, a member of the Crows’ flag-winning staff in 2017, took her personal life in November final yr on the age of 28.
The Australian Sports activities Mind Financial institution has recognized Anderson as having had low-stage CTE and three lesions in her mind, in line with the ABC.
The financial institution’s director Professor Michael Buckland stated the analysis, reported within the Springer Medical Journal, is critical.
“Whereas we’ve been discovering CTE in males for fairly a while, I believe that is actually the tip of the iceberg,” he instructed the ABC’s 7.30 Report.
“And it’s an actual pink flag that now ladies are collaborating (in contacts sports activities) simply as males are, that we’re going to begin seeing an increasing number of CTE circumstances in ladies.”
Anderson’s father, Brian Anderson, stated the analysis was “a shock however not a shock”.
“Now that this report has been revealed, I’m form of attempting to consider the way it may play out for feminine sportspeople all over the place,” he instructed the ABC.
“Suicide, it’s a tricky one, it’s a tricky strategy to see your little one die, it’s powerful to see your little one die anyway.
“However suicide causes you to re-examine every part, to take a look at each interplay.”
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– AAP