at post-mortem after his death at the age of 84, having been first diagnosed with dementia 20 years previously. Former St Kilda captain Danny Frawley had a long history of mental health problems, possibly related to head knocks he received during his playing career, prior to his tragic death.Concussion is the No.1 problem for sports throughout the world.
A concussion assessment tool, the SCAT5, has been developed and is used widely around the world. The SCAT5 records symptoms and assesses in a basic way the various effects of concussion on the vestibular and cognitive functions. Computer-based tests of cognitive function are also commonly used, with players tested before the season to establish a baseline for comparison after they receive a head knock.
Occasionally athletes, particularly after multiple concussions, have prolonged symptoms and take months to recover. This has led to a number of footballers in various codes retiring from the game.The concern that all players with multiple concussions have is the long-term effect of these repeated injuries. CTE is a progressive brain disorder associated with behavioural, mental and cognitive impairments, and diagnosed at post-mortem by the characteristic appearance of the brain.
We know that a proportion of those who played in the previous century, where head contact was frequent and those with concussions were sent straight back into the fray, have developed brain damage. Not every player from that era has had problems and it may well be that genetic susceptibility plays a role.