Report: Study finds 31 rugby league players with brain disease CTE
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- A study by the Australian Sports Brain Bank found 31 out of 51 donated brains from rugby league players in Australia showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease diagnosable only after death.
- The affected players ranged in age from their 20s to 40s and had competed at various levels, from amateur to professional.
- CTE has also been identified in former NFL players and athletes in other contact sports such as rugby union.
- Notable rugby league players diagnosed with CTE include former NRL star and coach Paul Green and Keith Titmuss, who died at age 20 after a practice session.
- The findings were presented by molecular biologist Jennifer Cropley at the International Sports Concussion Conference in Melbourne, which reportedly barred media attendance.
