A recent study conducted by the University of Glasgow on former rugby players’ brains revealed that those who played for extended periods were more prone to developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries and concussions. In total, 31 donated brains were analysed, with 21 displaying evidence of the condition. An estimated 68% of the brains affected belonged to amateur-level players.
According to post-mortem studies, regular participation in contact sports like rugby, American football, boxing, and football increases the likelihood of CTE development. More than 300 retired football, rugby league, and rugby union players are pursuing legal action in the UK, alleging that they sustained brain injuries during their careers.
In the study mentioned above, scientists analysed the brains of 23 amateur and eight professional rugby players who had offered their organs for research purposes. Researchers found a 14% what estimated risk of developing CTE for each additional year of rugby played. Willie Stewart, a professor at the University of Glasgow, explains that “it’s the shaking and twisting and rotating of the head thousands of times over decades that’s likely to cause deep damage in the brain.”
Prof Stewart claims that rugby needs to reduce head impacts both during games and training, suggesting that the sport is not doing enough to address the issue. World Rugby recently announced that top female players would be required to wear intelligent mouthguards capable of tracking head movements from January 2024.
Most of the participants in the study played rugby prior to 1995, when it became a professional sport. The brains were donated to the Glasgow, Sydney, and Boston University School of Medicine brain banks. CTE slowly deteriorates over time and leads to dementia. The study’s findings support calls for reducing head impacts in all sports, considering the long-term potential costs
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