When a Head Knock Becomes a Brain Injury — with Dr Rowena Mobbs

A hard hit in sport is obvious. The more difficult question is what repeated impacts might do when there is no clear concussion, no headache, and no moment that stops the game.

Dr Rowena Mobbs is a cognitive and sports neurologist working with people affected by cognitive decline and repeated head trauma. She explains why she believes sporting codes should move beyond the language of “head knocks” and take brain injury more seriously; what clinicians mean by “sub-concussive” injury; and why counting diagnosed concussions may not capture someone’s full exposure over a lifetime.

We also discuss the clinical uncertainty around CTE, the questions raised by the Geelong concussion waiver story, and when changes in memory, mood or behaviour should prompt a person or family to seek help. Rowena describes how she approaches difficult conversations with people whose symptoms may suggest probable CTE — with honesty, but without alarmism.

The conversation broadens into dementia: why more people are being diagnosed, the role of cardiovascular health, exercise, hearing and social connection, and why a promising case study is not the same as a proven treatment.

A careful conversation about risk, care, evidence, and what we still don’t know.