Groundbreaking Diagnosis: Female Pro Athlete Diagnosed with CTE
Heather Anderson, an Australian rules football player, has become the first female professional athlete to be diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), a degenerative brain disease. The discovery highlights the need for recognizing the risks and implementing strategies to minimize traumatic brain injuries in female contact sports, as women are more susceptible to concussions. Anderson, who died by suicide at the age of 28, had one confirmed concussion and potentially four more suspected concussions during her career. The majority of C.T.E. cases have been found in male athletes, but the growing representation of women in professional contact sports suggests that more cases may be identified in the future.
