Dementia Australia has welcomed the recommendations made following a Senate inquiry into concussion and repeated head trauma in contact sports, strongly supporting its recommendation for improved community awareness and education regarding concussion and repeated head trauma.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM said the Senate inquiry highlights now is the time to act to help reduce the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of dementia where repeated head injuries can affect someone’s brain function over time, enough to interfere with their normal or working life.
“Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is preventable, and we encourage the Australian Government to act by developing a national strategy to reduce the incidence and impact of concussion in contact sports,” Ms McCabe said.
Released on 5 September following a Senate inquiry early in 2023, the report also recommends the development of a national strategy to reduce the incidence and impacts of concussion, including binding return to play protocols and other rules to protect sport participants from head injuries, and the establishment of a National Sports Injury Database.
