21 Nov 2025

Ram's brains assist researchers on impacts of head blows

From Checkpoint, 4:51 pm on 21 November 2025

It's hoped rams brains may help researchers better understand the long term consequences of repeated head blows on sports people. Rams, which frequently butt heads, will provide Auckland University's centre for brain research a model population to study. Repeated blows to the head often experienced in contact sport have been found to increase the risk of brain diseases, like CTE and forms of dementia. Auckland University senior research fellow Dr Helen Murray spoke to Lisa Owen.