Brain scan on former athletes

THE brains of retired elite athletes will come under the microscope as part of a new study to prevent concussion in Australian sport.

The federal government will on Friday unveil a new $340,000 study to improve research about brain injuries.

The investment follows degenerative brain disease CTE being found during the post-mortems of former AFL players Danny Frawley, Shane Tuck and Polly Farmer and two unnamed Australian rugby league players.

“We want to ensure that all Australians can continue to play sport at all levels without endangering their long-term brain health,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

“Three in every four in Australia with brain injuries are aged under 65.

“While the injury is not always linked to playing sport, there have been growing concerns regarding the long term impacts of multiple concussions.”

The Australian Institute of Sport will lead the project.

Chief medical officer David Hughes said the project would improve the understanding of long-term brain health in male and female athletes from both collision and non-collision sports.

“We are aiming to collect data on the brain health of more than 40 retired athletes from non-collision sports every year,” Dr Hughes said, adding researchers may use a brain donor program.

The University of Newcastle, which is already studying 150 retired collision sportspeople, will collaborate on the research alongside the University of Canberra and Hunter Medical Research Institute.

More than 700,000 Australians have a brain injury, which can restrict their daily lives.

The AFL world was rocked this year when a brain study revealed former Richmond star Tuck, 38, had the worst case of CTE seen by the Australian Sports Brain Bank.

The research is due to be completed by 2024.