What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy? CTE brain disease diagnosed in Heather Anderson

Scientists in Australia claim to have made the world's first diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a professional female athlete. The diagnosis was made on Australian Rules footballer and army soldier Heather Anderson, who took her own life on November 13, 2022 at age 28. Usually, studies on the degenerative and fatal brain disease that are linked to contact sports, are carried out on male athletes. Scientists say the first female case could be "the tip of the iceberg" for female sportspersons.

CTE is progressive and could cause mental illness and dementia, but it can only be diagnosed post-mortem.

What Causes CTE?

Scientists say CTE is caused by repeated knocks or blows on the head and concussions. There have been more than 300 cases of CTE diagnosed in American football alone. In Australia, too, popular male Australian Rules footballers like Danny Frawley, Shane Tuck and Polly Farmer were diagnosed with CTE. Rugby league player-turned-coach Paul Green was also diagnosed with the same disease.

But Heather Anderson’s study was the first case diagnosed in female sports. Anderson's family had donated her brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank (ASBB), in the hope of better understanding the cause of her illness and death.

Anderson played eight professional games as defender in the Australian Football League Women's (AFLW). She suffered several injuries in her football career, including one concussion. She retired in 2017.

Prof Michael Buckland, co-author of the study, said Heather Anderson's brain had three clear lesions, including those in the organ that regulate movement, memory, problem-solving, language, and behavior.

Prof Buckland told the BBC that those diagnosed with CTE commonly suffer from a wide range of mental health issues, such as “depression, anxiety, irritability, impulsivity, drug and alcohol use, suicidal thoughts, as well as actions of suicide".

Heather Anderson's family told the professor that "in some ways" the study’s findings "made a lot of sense" to them and that they were grateful for the research.

"I think [Heather Anderson] is a sentinel case. There's certainly a real need for a focus on females in this space," he said.

Now, sporting bodies worldwide are under pressure to improve concussion protocols and save players.

In Australia alone, as reported by the BBC, more than 60 former Australian Football League (AFL) players have sued the league for up to A$1bn (£526,000; $668,000) in compensation for the serious damage due to concussions.

In the US and the UK, too, around 400 players have joined a similar class action, it reports.

FAQs

Q1. What is CTE?
A1. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive, fatal brain disease caused due to repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions and repeated blows to the head. It could also lead to dementia.

Q2. What was Heather Anderson diagnosed with?
A2. Late Australian athlete Heather Anderson has been diagnosed with Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a fatal disease of the brain. The study and diagnosis is conducted post-mortem.