The horrifying thing that domestic violence victims and NRL players have in common.

Content warning: This post deals with descriptions of domestic violence. 

On a surface level, it might not be obvious—but there is something both significant and terrifying both NRL players and domestic violence victim-survivors have in common.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by repeated head injuries. For years it's been associated with athletes who play contact sports.

But now new research has discovered the first cases of CTE in victims of domestic violence. 

The study examined the post mortems of two Australian women who had endured decades of intimate partner violence, brutal assaults and head injuries before they died. 

CTE, which causes similar symptoms to Alzheimer's Disease, or Parkinson's, directly correlates with excessive head injuries, and in most cases has a progressive clinical course — it starts with mild cognitive impairment that gradually gets worse and worse overtime.

Watch women and violence, the hidden numbers. Post continues below.

Dr Michael Buckland is Head of the Department of Neuropathology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, and Director of the Australian Sports Brain Bank. He is also one of the co-authors of this new research published in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.

He hopes that the findings highlight the reality of traumatic brain injuries in domestic violence cases and reminds the wider community of the importance of autopsy brain examination from a research perspective. 

"This is obviously the more extreme end of the spectrum, given that those the two cases in the research had extensive history of head injuries over many years. So we don't want to give the impression that every woman that suffers domestic violence is at risk of CTE," he tells Mamamia.

"At the same time though, we need to understand the potential cognitive impacts many victim-survivors are facing. Contact sports players choose to participate in their chosen contact sport and they know the risks. These women did not choose to be hit in the head. They were victims."

Both of the women's deaths were deemed unnatural. One of the women had died in a car accident, the other allegedly died by violence, specifically alleged blunt force trauma to the head.

Both were referred to the relevant coroner, and this is how Dr Buckland and his colleagues came into contact with the two cases. The families of each then consented for the women's brains to be donated and examined. 

"What an awful time for the families and what they were dealing with — to then make that decision and allow us to examine their loved ones' brains in the name of research, we cannot thank these families enough."

Dr Buckland explains that CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, although efforts are being made to change this pattern of diagnosis. 

Katrina Harrison is a proud Palawa woman. She is 49 years old. She is a victim-survivor who endured 23 years of violence at the hands of her ex-husband. She also now lives with a serious brain injury as a direct result of the abuse she suffered. 

"He was lovely when I first met him, as they often are. Then it just changed. I experienced sexual, physical, emotional, financial and psychological abuse by him. I don't have any of my own teeth in my mouth. He would just hit my face," she tells Mamamia.

Katrina has 10 children, eight of which with her ex-husband. For years, they were also impacted by the abuse. 

"My kids, they're the ones that are the true heroes. I tried my best to protect them, and I attempted to leave many times. Considering the kids have PTSD, they are doing good."

Seven years ago, Katrina found the strength and an opportunity to leave.

"I just woke up one day and had had enough. I knew I had to get out of there for good. I was quite lucky, I had a great police station where I am. With the police's help, my ex-husband went to prison and received a criminal conviction. My kids and I were able to start again. You try to never look back. Being with my kids, safe, it's just magical."

For some time now Katrina has been the Aboriginal representative on the Victoria Government's Victim Survivors' Advisory Council. She bears not only the emotional trauma of what she endured, but the physical trauma of her brain injury. 

In August 2022, she suffered a major stroke, which doctors later said was related to the physical abuse she experienced in her former marriage.

Katrina with one of her beloved family members. Image: Supplied.

"At the time I didn't realise it was due to the violence. It wasn't until they did tests and MRIs that they told me. I had a bleed on the brain too. They said this was always going to happen, because of the amount of violence I lived. My life will never be the same."

Katrina says it's "good for people to know" about the proven link between CTE and domestic violence.

Nicolle Edwards, Founder and CEO of RizeUp—  a national organisation that helps women, children and families move on after the devastation of domestic and family violence — agrees. 

"The recent research on CTE and victim-survivors reveals the profound and lasting impacts of traumatic brain injuries. These findings bring to light the critical need to acknowledge and address the severe, often concealed, injuries stemming from domestic and family violence," she told Mamamia. 

"For years, we've heard the heart-wrenching stories, and now we possess the scientific evidence that corroborates the experiences. This research amplifies the essential truths carried by the voices of victim-survivors, and the voices of those no longer with us, highlighting the long-term repercussions of violence. This is a resounding call to action, reminding us all of our responsibility to end violence against women."

Katrina wants to keep the conversation alive for this exact reason.

"So many women have died. Knowledge is the key to everything, and when people read about this, hopefully it will help anyone out there who is suffering to get out if they can."

If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.

Mamamia is a charity partner of RizeUp Australia, a national organisation that helps women, children and families move on after the devastation of domestic and family violence. Their mission is to deliver life-changing and practical support to these families when they need it most. If you would like to support their mission you can donate here. 

Feature Image: Canva.