In what is a world first, Australian researchers have posthumously diagnosed a female professional athlete with the degenerative brain disease CTE.
Low stage CTE - or chronic traumatic encephalopathy - was identified in the brain of former Australian Rules footballer Heather Anderson who died last November aged 28.
It has been described as a landmark diagnosis and a wake-up call at a time when women are taking up contact sport in greater numbers.
Auckland University neuroscientist Dr Helen Murray spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
