Study Links Rugby Concussions to Neurodegenerative Diseases

Research led by Durham University revealed that retired rugby players who suffered multiple concussions show higher levels of specific proteins in their blood linked to conditions like motor neurone disease (MND) and Alzheimer’s disease. The study compared 30 retired players with over five concussions to 26 players without head trauma, indicating elevated levels of serum t-tau and tau-p181 proteins associated with neurodegenerative diseases in the concussed group. This discovery may lead to a future toolkit for monitoring former players' health. Concerns about the long-term impact of concussions on athletes, including those in rugby, football, and boxing, have escalated, prompting the search for early biomarkers to detect and address potential neurodegenerative diseases. World Rugby received the study, emphasizing the need to monitor brain health in retired contact sportspeople to prevent future neurological conditions.