Billy Gyton a rugby Player from New Zealand died last year has been diagnosed with a brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE has be linked with repeated blows to head in several contact sports and is known to cause violent moods, dementia and depression.
Brain bank co director Maurice Curtis said in a statement on Friday that stage two CTE has been noted in 33 years old Gyton by New Zealand based pathologist and seconded by specialist in Australia. His family has donated his brain to University of Auckland’s “Brain Bank”.
What is CTE ?
CTE stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a progressive neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma , specially in contact sports like football, boxing and hockey. It is characterized by the build up of abnormal problems in the brain leading to cognitive decline, mood changes and behavioral symptoms.
Symptoms typically manifest years or decades after repetitive brain injuries. CTE has got significant attention due to it’s association with professional athletes and concern about long-term impact of sports related head injuries. Research suggest the individual with a history of repeatitive head trauma including athelete and military veterans are at increased risk of CTE.
While the exact mechanisms underlying CTE are still being studied , raising awareness, implementing safety measures in sports and promoting early detection and intervention are crucial in addressing this complex and deliberating condition.
Guyton had bouts of concussions
Guyton’s father Jhon told radio New Zealand those symptoms rang true with his son,who retired prematurely in 2018 after being plagued by bouts of concussion.
“The poor guy would spend hours in small dark cupboard because he couldn’t handle being in light ” Jhon Guyton said.
“Some morning he would just sit in the bottom of his shower tray crying, trying to muster up energy to get moving “.
Sports and head injuries:
The findings comes as a group of nearly 300 former rugby players including England world cup winner Steve Thompson and Phil Vickery,are taking legal action over brain injuries.
The player alleged that World Rugby ,the Welsh Rugby Union and RFU failed to establish reasonable measures to protect their health and safety. Injuries from head blow found as the root of other disorders such as moto neuron disease, early onset dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease.
“NZR (New Zealand Rugby) is also supporting world-leading research to better understand the long-term impacts of participation in rugby including a focus on understanding any link between concussion and long term brain health.”
