FABHRP
Research Design
This is a long-term study that observes and tracks the brain health of former athletes. It looks at their exposure to sports, concussions, and other risk factors. Data is collected through various methods like health questionnaires, interviews, cognitive tests, brain scans, blood samples, and sensory tests. Participants can also choose to donate their brain tissue for examination after they pass away.
Aims
To check if the criteria for diagnosing Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES) are accurate and to improve the ability to diagnose it while the person is still alive.
To study the link between multiple brain injuries and later life brain health issues, such as mental health problems, neurological conditions, and diseases that cause brain degeneration.
Research Team
Chief Investigator
Associate Professor Andrew Gardner – Associate Professor Andrew Gardner
Core team
- Dr Lauren Fortington
- Mr Oliver Smith | Research Program Coordinator
- Mr Campbell Thomson | Research Assistant
Participants
- Former elite athletes from collision, contact, and combat sports
- Former elite athletes from non-collision, non-contact, and non-combat sports
- Former non-elite athletes from non-collision, non-contact, and non-combat sports
- Non-athletic individuals (control group)