Brain disease found in former Australian rules player

Associate Michael Buckland - A degenerative brain disease linked with repetitive head injury has been identified in a former Australian rules football player for the first time. The player's brain, which was examined by the Australian Sports Brain Bank run by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in partnership with the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre , was found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Last year, the founder of the Australian Sports Brain Bank, head of neuropathology at RPA and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, Michael Buckland , identified CTE in the brains of two former first grade rugby league players, including Canterbury Bulldogs coach and player Steve Folkes. In 2013, Australian rugby union player and coach Barry "Tizza" Taylor was the first Australian sportsperson diagnosed with CTE, after his brain was sent to the Boston University brain bank for analysis. CTE was first described in boxers and was originally called punch-drunk syndrome. CTE has since also been found in the brains of former players of American Football, ice-hockey and soccer. At present, CTE can only be diagnosed confidently by examination of the brain after death.