The AFL has committed to funding an unlimited number of brain scans for retired footballers as the code ramps up its response to one of the most troubling issues in world sport – concussion.
In a joint research project that the AFL Players Association’s boss is calling “world leading”, former players and their partners will be surveyed about memory and mental health problems that have struck in football retirement.
The concussion research is a multi-million dollar joint project of the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health – the largest brain research group in the Southern Hemisphere – the AFL and the AFLPA.
With a pilot testing phase involving around 12 former players now concluded, the AFLPA is set to target every one of the more than 5600 former AFL/VFL players and enlist them to participate in an initial survey.
Retired footballers deemed to be showing signs of brain trauma will be offered a second, more extensive, assessment and referred to the Florey Institute for brain scans on the advice of experts.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/retired-footballers-to-get-free-brain-scans-20140517-zrftd.html