A Sport's Hidden Danger: The Story of Nick Lowden

Nick Lowden loved playing football. He was good at it and wanted to become a professional player.

His parents, Kerry and Tony, thought he was talented and could make it to the Australian Football League (AFL).

But they did not know that the sport he loved was hurting his brain. The hits and collisions were adding up.

Now, Nick's mother says, 'It's too late, he's gone.'

Nick died at 23. He is the youngest Australian rules player to be diagnosed with a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

CTE is a disease that affects the brain and is caused by repeated hits to the head. It has been found in other former AFL players.

More young players are now being diagnosed with CTE.

Nick's parents want to tell his story so that other parents and players know about the risks of playing the game.

Nick was a good player and won many awards.

He started playing football at a young age and was very good at it.

Nick's parents thought he was a natural player.

He was a team player and helped his teammates.

Nick's parents loved watching him play.

Playing in the AFL was Nick's dream.

His parents reminded him that football was not the only thing in life.

Nick made it to a state representative team and then to an elite junior AFL team.

But one game changed everything. Nick got hurt and was sent back to play.

After that, Nick started to show signs of memory loss and other problems.

His mental health started to decline rapidly.

Nick tried to get help, but nothing seemed to work.

His parents did not understand what was happening to him.

They told him he had everything going for him, but he was still struggling.

There is no way to know if someone has CTE while they are alive.

CTE is a disease that affects the brain and is caused by repeated hits to the head.

A doctor found CTE in Nick's brain after he died.

The doctor said that the damage may have started when Nick was a teenager.

It's not just concussions that cause CTE, but also repeated hits to the head.

The doctor said that most hits do not show any signs or symptoms, but they still cause damage.

People who play contact sports are exposed to thousands of hits.

Common symptoms of CTE include mood problems, memory loss, and impulse control issues.

Some Australian players who have been diagnosed with CTE have died by suicide.

The doctor thinks that the AFL needs a plan to prevent CTE.

The AFL says that the health and safety of players is its top priority.

The AFL has made changes to its rules to protect players' brain health.

The AFL says it has made the game safer, but still fun to play and watch.

Nick's parents were shocked by the AFL's response to their son's death.

They think the AFL should do more to educate players about the risks of CTE.

The AFL says it is not its job to communicate all the risks of the game.

Nick's parents want to make sure that other players know about the dangers of CTE.

They do not want any other family to go through what they went through.

Nick's legacy lives on through his love of football and his community.

His story is one of tragedy, but also of the importance of looking out for each other.

The AFL needs to do more to protect its players from CTE.

Nick's story will be remembered as a reminder of the risks of playing contact sports.

The investigation into the AFL's brain trauma crisis will continue.

The story was written by several journalists.

The editors and photographers worked hard to bring the story to life.

If you know more about this story, please share it.

The story was published on a Sunday.

There are related stories about sports injuries.

The topic of sports injuries is important.

The AFL and Australian Rules Football are related topics.

Melbourne is a city where Australian Rules Football is popular.

Mental health is an important issue in sports.

Norwood is a team in the South Australian league.

Sport and sports medicine are related topics.

Traralgon is a city where Nick played football.

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