Adam Hunter, another former star of the West Coast Eagles, died in February at age 43. Desperate after his death, his parents chose to get involved. To further vital research, they donated his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank (ASBB). In 2019, a postmortem examination showed lesions consistent with stage II chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This condition has raised increasing alarms in the world of contact sports.
Although these challenges make diagnosis a double-edged sword, his diagnosis does bring attention to the complicated reality of brain health in athletes. CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a degenerative brain disease resulting from repeated head trauma. Its hallmark symptoms are anxiety, depression, rage and disruption of impulse control. Dr. Michael Buckland, founder of the ASBB, stressed that brain donations such as Hunter’s are crucial. Such contributions are key in helping researchers further study the effects of CTE on athletes.
The Significance of Brain Donations
The ASBB has examined nearly 100 athletes’ brains since its start and discovered CTE in more than 40 of them. This again emphasizes the urgent need for brain donations as scientists continue efforts to understand this debilitating condition. Science behind CTE is still evolving. So far, initial research indicates that only 10 percent of those who suffer repetitive head impacts will go on to develop the disease.
Dr. Buckland emphasized the importance of donations, stating, “We don’t know a lot about it yet but it does appear to occur in about 10 percent of cases.” He explained that many families report their loved ones sought relief through drugs or alcohol due to the symptoms of CTE.
“Many families tell us that their loved one sought some relief through drugs or alcohol,” – Michael Buckland
Hunter himself had raised alarms about his brain health on several occasions, thinking he was afflicted with CTE. His experience is not an outlier—professional and amateur athletes alike in high-contact sports are exposed to these same risks.
Understanding CTE and Its Implications
Since CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, it poses a challenge to comprehending its true effects while someone is alive. Dr. Buckland noted that identifying biomarkers for CTE could lead to the possibility of living diagnoses in the next decade or two, offering hope for early intervention and treatment.
Although these recent developments are promising, there is still no cure for CTE. Dr. Buckland stated, “There’s no cure but the symptoms can be treated … there’s always cause for hope.” Families dealing with pediatric acute liver failure encounter numerous emotional hurdles as well. Even more importantly, these insights are timely as they continue to chart a course through those challenges.
“We just hope that something can come out of the [brain] donations … [and] it can help young players in the future to find a cure before it kills them,” – Mrs. Brown
Hunter’s story is a reminder that we need to move with urgency to remove CTE from sports. So leagues such as the Australian Football League (AFL) are introducing several rule changes. These modifications are designed to reduce “avoidable forceful high contact,” and further deliver upon the league’s commitment to prioritizing player safety.
The Broader Impact on Sports
While increased awareness of CTE’s prevalence has spurred a national discourse on athletes’ safety at every level of sport. While many initiatives aim to reduce head injuries, the understanding of why only a minority of individuals develop CTE remains unclear. Dr. Buckland emphasized the need for ongoing research and education.
When you see your son run onto the football field and within five minutes he’s on the stretcher being carried off shaking and convulsing, it’s pretty upsetting. Even though it happened two years ago, Mr. Brown said, speaking about the emotional impact that these experiences leave on families.
Children and adults alike continue to pressure high-contact sports to make those efforts, too. The heartbreaking story of Adam Hunter exemplifies the dangers that athletes encounter on a daily basis and demonstrates the importance of ongoing research to ensure the best brain health possible.
