“On the surface it appears Katoa has been let down by personnel referred to in the report, albeit we do not know this for certain because no detail has been provided. The root cause however, is the culture & standards within the sport allowing for this to happen” www.theroar.com.au/2025/12/11/t...

In this episode of the knock-on effect #podcast talk to Adam Wood and Osteopath Cliff Butler on a range of topics around both #concussion and #CTE youtu.be/2nq1OsXREe8?...

This episode discusses the effects of concussion on athletes in the long term, the development of #CTE and motor neuron disease in athletes and the effects within sport to take concussion seriously. #286podcast #concussion #sport #CTE #MND #podcast youtu.be/4upKu3z1cxs?...

"Concussion protocols should be strengthened following Eliesa Katoa incident, neuroscientist says" www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

"Evidence of brain damage in rugby players has been uncovered in a study using advanced imaging & blood biomarkers. Researchers found signs of neurodegeneration & structural brain changes in mid-life former elite athletes, despite no current diagnoses of dementia" www.emjreviews.com/neurology/ne...

“Swinburne University Professor Alan Pearce said the Katoa incident should be a wake-up call to the code to improve their player safety as scrutiny centres on the forward being allowed to play in the game even after a brutal hit in the warm-up.” www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/he...

“Katoa was in all sorts of strife sitting on the Tongan bench in the 2nd half after copping several hits to the head. He was later taken on a medicab for further assessment. Medical officials put an oxygen mask on Katoa’s face and covered him with a team jacket.” www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/nr...

"Katoa copped a nasty hit from teammate Hopoate as the two contested a ball in the warm up but was passed fit to play. The back rower then copped an accidental elbow from a teammate in the 10th min and came off for a HIA but passed that & returned to the game." www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-prem...

"Devices such as neck protectors can mitigate risks–but they need to be normalised at all levels of sport. To do this, CA should mandate their use at the community level...we need prominent & charismatic athletes to break the stigma associated with their use" theconversation.com/yes-cricket-...

'His brain was shot to pieces’: The ex-Wallaby, the #CTE diagnosis, and some comfort for his widow. www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...

Former England captain and World Cup winner Lewis Moody has revealed he has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10...

#concussion solved! www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootb...

My latest #concusison paper, currently under peer review, but can viewed as a preprint here. Long-Term Cumulative Effects of Repeated Concussions in #Cyclists - Alan J Pearce, Doug King www.preprints.org/manuscript/2...

Billy Guyton and Shane Christie were Super Rugby players — and best mates. Both lost their lives to suicide after suffering head injuries. Spoke to their families about the answers that exist, and whether they're being introduced quickly enough. www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

[Jonas] Vingegaard crashed at Paris-Nice. He did not compete for the next two months after suffering a #concussion, criticising the race doctors for not providing a head injury assessment after he fell, and allowing him to complete the remaining 84km of the stage. www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...

Dr Daniel Daneshvar, chief of brain injury rehabilitation and associate professor at Harvard University, said even a low-stage diagnosis of #CTE could be responsible for "behavioural changes and impulse control problems", which often progressed with age. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09...

'I see retired AFL players who don’t remember their grand final day’ A leading sports neuroscientist has rubbished renewed calls to move the bye round to before the AFL grand final–following one of Geelong’s biggest stars being ruled out because of concussion www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/i-...

Former players turned commentators: #Concussion is a serious issue and player safety is important Also: C'mon, we need to change the schedule so we can rush a player back from a *brain injury* to play for the cup www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/to...

"The incident involving Tom Stewart will reignite the debate around the pre-finals bye and whether it should be switched to the week before the grand final." We seem to value limb injuries more than brain injuries. #concussion www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/st...

"A landmark #concussion class action against the AFL and Geelong has been cleared to proceed, as the Cats were warned they could have up to 300 players who suffered brain injuries." www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/af...

Journal of Neurotrauma flag 6 papers on q-collar brain "protection" device as expressions of concern. www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/...

[Bugner’s] career spanned 32 years ended in 1999, by which time he had relocated to Australia, where he spent the final years of his life in a care home after being diagnosed with dementia www.news.com.au/sport/boxing...

West Coast Eagles player Adam Hunter posthumously diagnosed with #CTE www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

#Concussion recovery periods may be too short, new brain study suggests. A study involving athletes who suffered concussion has found just how long it seems it takes for the brain to recover — and it has led to a neuroscientist raising some serious concerns. links.streem.com.au/herald-sun-2...

Loss of consciousness, 20 minutes of treatment, match called off, but still called a 'head knock'. #Media, do better please #concussion #notaheadknock @abcnewsbot.bsky.social www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

From From Run It Straight trends to #concussion as toughness, we're normalising #brain trauma for our kids ABC Pacific Pulse @abcnewsbot.bsky.social #cte #braindamage #podcast #abcnews #Australia www.abc.net.au/pacific/prog...

"Community clubs around Victoria and Australia really need to be developing relationships with their local #concussion clinics and doctors in order to be able to look after their players properly,” concussion researcher Dr Pearce said www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07... @abcnewsbot.bsky.social

Why is it that credit for change towards concussion/CTE is always given to "former players" or the AFL rather than the scientists who actually did the work and advocated for change? #Askingforafriend www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/de...

But according to neurophysiologist Alan Pearce, they're not alone, "I see this alot with athletes who have a #concussion, as well as another injury, and that other injury tends to get prioritised, and the concussion gets overlooked." #postconcussionsyndrome youtu.be/iRVMpoB2mjY?...

"Yet for all the progress [on concussion] made by many sports in recent years, it feels like we still have not fully grasped the understanding of CTE – or maybe we don’t want to." My new opinion piece in The Conversation Australia theconversation.com/ive-seen-the...

Neuroscientist Pearce argues RunIt magnifies "the most violent aspects of our established sport", while safety protocols do little to minimise any risk. "[They're] basically using the collision as the entertainment value, which is, in effect, commercialising #concussion" www.bbc.com/news/article...

"Dr Alan Pearce has been outspoken about his thoughts on netball's concussion policies before, which have recently been tightened. Now there is an independent concussion observer at each game, plus a team doctor." Your welcome... #netballchaos @abcnewsbot.bsky.social www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

"[Ms Green] appealed for the major sporting codes to do more to educate people about the disease, while also moving to better protect young athletes and calling for more support for the Australian Sports Brain Bank." (Gift article) www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/nrl/i-...

“The Green family are determined to educate the public that Paul died as a result of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (#CTE) and not as a result of a battle with depression, as implied by Slater in his press conference in Perth on Tuesday” www.theage.com.au/sport/nrl/i-...

"Yesterday I wrongly made the link between Paul Green's death and the stress and pressures of coaching, which wasn't accurate and nor was it appropriate,'' [Slater] said, "I just want to say this, Paul had #CTE, that is a different disease to what I was referring to." www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06...

What is common knowledge in your field, but shocks outsiders? Helmets do not stop concussions #protectthebrain

"Coleman [representing Geelong FC] argued any group member would eventually have to be medically tested, for this would be needed to prove any loss and damage when it came to potential settlement negotiations." www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/co...

So many times you are told to “reach out for help” and are met with total silence. Yet when someone loses their life to a mental illness everyone just repeats the “reach out" platitudes but never actually changes anything.

Popped my lawn bowls cherry...I am now officially old #lawnbowls #superfun #noconcussions

Tuck’s legacy: it’s not mental health, it’s brain damage AFL great Shane Tuck was tormented by the voices in his head. Now his family reveal the heartbreak of the deadly disease that took his life #cte www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/ct...

An excellent #opinion piece by Darren Kane www.theage.com.au/sport/run-it...

The Run It Straight trend has turned viral, and deadly. We ask an organiser how they're addressing doctor's warnings about the serious risks. #concussion #secondinpactsyndrome #runit www.abc.net.au/triplej/prog...

Concussion expert Alan Pearce, a professor at Melbourne’s Swinburne University, says the game is supercharging the most dangerous aspects of rugby league tackles and is gaining popularity among those who perceive safety rules in sport as “woke”. www.smh.com.au/sport/athlet...

Prof Alan Pearce said it puts immense stress on individual’s brains as it takes the “most violent aspects of rugby and is exploiting it” “There’s no evasion component which essentially puts almost a car crash level of impact to (participant’s) heads..." www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/car...

A teenager has died during a private ‘run it’ game as the grave consequences of Australia & New Zealand’s new contact “sport” is realised. The 19yr old man was critically injured [during] an impromptu game with friends on Sunday afternoon in Palmerston North NZ www.news.com.au/sport/teenag...

"A broken brain is too big a price to play with." An opinion piece from me in The Australian #concussion #cte #mentalhealth www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/ampli...

"Neuroscientist Alan Pearce said new research showed the correlation between repetitive head impacts from contact and collision sports increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in ageing athletes" www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

“Former West Coast Eagles premiership player Adam Selwood has died at the age of 41. His death comes just months after his twin brother, former Brisbane Lions player Troy Selwood, died by suicide.” Very sad news @abcnewsbot.bsky.social @herefornews.bsky.social www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...

"Neuroscientist Alan Pearce said new research showed the correlation between repetitive head impacts from contact and collision sports increased risk of neurodegenerative disease in ageing athletes" www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...