A recent study has discovered that retired rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions may be more susceptible to developing motor neurone disease (MND) and other related conditions. Scientists have found that players who have had five or more concussions throughout their careers have elevated levels of specific proteins in their blood that are associated with conditions such as MND and Alzheimer’s disease. This significant finding has the potential to lead to a toolkit for monitoring former players, with the hope of detecting neurodegenerative diseases early on.
The research, conducted by academics from Durham University, aimed to compare biomarkers in the blood of retired UK-based rugby players who had a history of concussion with a group of athletes who had not experienced head trauma. The study included 30 retired male athletes who had suffered more than five concussions during their careers, and 26 retired sportsmen with no history of concussion, all of whom were part of the UK Rugby Health project.
Results revealed that the group of players who had experienced concussions had notably higher levels of specific proteins linked to the development of Alzheimer’s and MND, such as serum t-tau and tau-p181. Conversely, they had lower levels of a retinoid transport protein called RBP-4, which is crucial for brain development and function.
It is hoped that with further research and funding, the discovery of these biomarkers could lead to the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases in athletes, allowing for timely interventions. Professor Paul Chazot, senior author of the study, emphasized that the long-term effects of concussions on athletes, particularly in contact sports, are a major concern due to their association with neurodegenerative diseases.
While the findings of this study are promising, it is important to approach them with caution, especially given the small sample size. Dr. Amanda Heslegrave, senior research fellow at UCL’s UKDRI Fluid Biomarker Laboratory, stressed the need for larger studies before drawing conclusive results.
Former Welsh international rugby player Alix Popham, who has been diagnosed with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy and early onset dementia, expressed the need for greater protection of current rugby players in light of this evidence. Additionally, Jessica Lee, director of research at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, underscored the importance of continued funding for research efforts aimed at identifying new targets for MND treatments.
Overall, this study has shed light on the potential impact of repeated concussions on the long-term brain health of retired rugby players, calling for sustained efforts to define the pathways leading to concussion-induced neurodegenerative diseases. The hope is that this research will contribute to the development of interventions and tools for the early detection and management of these conditions in athletes.