Study finds one-third of examined Australian rugby league brains show CTE
The Australian Sports Brain Bank examined 51 brains from rugby league players ranging from their 20s to 40s and identified CTE in 31 of them. The disease can only be confirmed after death. Among those diagnosed were former NRL star and coach Paul Green and the late Manly Sea Eagles player Keith Titmuss. Findings were presented by molecular biologist Jennifer Cropley at the International Sports Concussion Conference in Melbourne.
A new investigation by the Australian Sports Brain Bank revealed that chronic traumatic encephalopathy was present in 31 of the 51 rugby league brains donated for study, covering athletes in their 20s, 30s and 40s across amateur and professional levels. CTE, a degenerative brain condition, can only be diagnosed post-mortem. High-profile cases included NRL star and coach Paul Green and Manly Sea Eagles forward Keith Titmuss, who died after a training session in 2020.
The data reflect the first 150 brain examinations of contact-sport participants completed at the bank. Molecular biologist and data scientist Jennifer Cropley presented the results at the International Sports Concussion Conference in Melbourne, where media access was restricted. The study adds to similar findings in former NFL players and other contact-sport athletes.
