The study conducted by scientists from Durham University has revealed that retired rugby players who have experienced multiple concussions may have biological variances that increase their vulnerability to developing motor neurone disease (MND) and other neurodegenerative conditions. This discovery has the potential to significantly impact the diagnosis and early interventions for at-risk athletes.
The research involved the analysis of proteins in the blood of 56 retired athletes, with a specific focus on identifying biomarkers associated with MND, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A comparison was made between retired rugby players with a history of concussions and a control group of athletes who had not sustained head trauma, approximately seven years after retirement from sports.
The findings demonstrated that retired players who had endured five or more concussions during their careers had elevated levels of specific proteins in their blood, namely serum t-tau and tau-p181, which are associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease and MND. Additionally, the study revealed lower levels of a crucial retinoid transport protein called RBP-4 in rugby players with a history of concussions, essential for brain development and functioning.
The implications of these results suggest that monitoring these specific proteins in the blood may enable early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases in athletes and timely interventions. This breakthrough could lead to the development of a “toolkit” for monitoring the brain health of retired contact sportspeople.
However, the study emphasizes the necessity for further research and funding, with plans to conduct a follow-up study to gain a deeper understanding of the long-term impact of concussions on brain health. Co-author Dr Karen Hind emphasized the significance of defining pathways leading to neurodegenerative diseases and the need for interventions to protect the brain health of athletes with a history of concussions.
The study has received attention from influential figures in the field such as John Popham, co-founder of the charity Head For Change, who stressed the need for substantial changes to protect current rugby players in response to the emerging evidence. Jessica Lee, director of research at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, highlighted the value of the study’s findings while underscoring the need for caution due to the preliminary nature of the results and the small sample size.
Dr Amanda Heslegrave, a senior research fellow at UCL’s UKDRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory, echoed the need for caution and emphasized the importance of conducting larger studies to draw more definitive conclusions about the correlation between repeated concussions and neurodegenerative diseases.
In conclusion, the study’s findings illuminate the potential long-term consequences of sustaining multiple concussions for athletes, particularly in contact sports such as rugby. It is hoped that this research will not only lead to improved monitoring and interventions for retired players but also contribute to efforts in identifying new targets for future treatments of neurodegenerative conditions. The significance of this study underscores the need for continued research and support to potentially bring about a cure for these debilitating diseases.