Dementia warning for rugby players as quarter show red flag signs
Former rugby players show a higher prevalence of brain changes linked to dementia
There are ongoing legal cases in rugby league, rugby union and football involving former players
A new study suggests former rugby players show a higher prevalence of brain changes linked to dementia than matched members of the general population. Levels of a protein called p-tau217, a potential sign of dementia, were higher overall (17.6 per cent) in a group of 200 retired male and female players who said they had suffered significant previous head impact exposure in their careers, compared to 33 matched controls with no exposure to head injuries.
Levels of the protein – common in people with diseases like Alzheimer's – were significantly increased in 46 (23 per cent) of the player group. MRI scans also revealed former players had reduced brain volume in some areas, compared with the control group.
None of the participants were found to have dementia at the time of the study, which is ongoing and being conducted by researchers at Imperial College London, University College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute. Dr Jacqui Hanley, head of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'Although none of the rugby players developed young-onset dementia during the study, they did show changes known to be linked to dementia.
'These include smaller brain volumes and higher levels of p-tau217 protein in the blood, which is common in people with diseases like Alzheimer's. It is too early to say whether these players will go on to develop dementia and whether the physical brain changes observed will predict cognitive difficulties later in their lives.
'There are also key limitations to bear in mind, such as the reliance on self-reporting and interview to determine traumatic brain injury history. However, as the study continues for another four years it should provide some insight into whether these markers in the blood and brain continue to change and how this could impact the rugby players' memory and thinking abilities.'
Article continues below
Previous studies have suggested a link between playing rugby and football and an increased risk of developing neurodegenerative disease, such as the FIELD Study in football, which found footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the population.
There are ongoing legal cases in rugby league, rugby union and football involving former players who claim the sporting authorities failed to adequately protect them from exposure to head injuries.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Hull hospitals scan more patients with AI technology
Staff at NHS hospitals in Hull said AI technology had cut MRI scan times, allowing them to see more University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the software used algorithms to help reduce background noise, helping to achieve sharper images in a shorter Bunker, head of imaging, said: "This means we can reduce the scanning time on certain sequences, but still get the same imaging quality."The software has been installed at Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital and will also be introduced at Scunthorpe General Hospital and Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby. The Air Recon Deep Learning (ARDL) software was installed on the hospitals' existing MRI said the software was cutting between 10 and 15 minutes from average scan times. A routine MRI head scan used to take 30 minutes but now takes 20, the trust said, while a prostate scan now takes 30 minutes instead of 45. The trust added it can now scan 31 lumber spine patients over a 12 hour period, instead of 21 Bunker said: "People who struggle with claustrophobia or those with learning disabilities, who previously couldn't tolerate a scan, are finding they are able to endure the shorter scan times."Staff also reported fewer children needed to have a general anaesthetic to get through a to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Glasgow Times
20 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
University of Strathclyde discovery could boost imaging
Researchers from the University of Strathclyde found that two-photon processes, useful in studying Alzheimer's disease and other nervous system disorders, can become more efficient with quantum light at far higher levels than previously thought. Typically, these processes require high-intensity light, which can harm samples. Read more: 'No evidence' that data stolen in cyber attack, says Glasgow City Council Entangled photon pairs were suggested as a solution to this problem, but it was believed that the quantum enhancement only worked with very faint light. The new study by researchers in Scotland and Italy showed that quantum enhancement was successful at light intensity levels nearly 10 times higher. This could lead to new technology with stronger signals without losing quantum enhancement. The study was conducted by researchers from Strathclyde, the University of Glasgow, Università dell'Insubria in Como, and Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie del CNR in Milan. It was published in Science Advances. Dr Lucia Caspani, lead researcher in the project and visiting researcher at Strathclyde's Institute of Photonics, said: "We have been able to demonstrate that quantum effects can still provide an advantage well beyond the level of low intensity. "This could significantly expand the role of quantum light in applied technologies, notably within the field of biosensing. "Our research could lay the groundwork for the next generation of quantum-enhanced sensing approaches." Researchers examined two-photon processes and compared the results from quantum and classical light experiments with those of an experiment using classical, non-quantum light. The findings showed that two-photon processes driven by quantum light are more efficient than their classical counterparts, even at higher intensities where quantum enhancement was expected to fade.
Daily Record
21 hours ago
- Daily Record
Fiona Phillips' husband says he wishes wife had cancer instead of Alzheimer's
Martin Frizell has become Fiona's primary carer since the former GMTV presenter's early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis Martin Frizell, husband of TV presenter Fiona Phillips, has expressed his wish that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer rather than Alzheimer's disease, as there might have been a possibility for a cure. Married to the journalist and broadcaster since 1998, Martin highlighted the lack of support and care packages available for those living with Alzheimer's. He has taken on the role of primary carer for Fiona, whose diagnosis in her early 60s in 2023 has significantly impacted her cognitive abilities. The mum-of-two shared how she became unaware of her forgetfulness and tendency to repeat herself. Martin, who resigned from his position as editor of This Morning last year, said "family priorities to [soon] change". He acknowledged the need to maintain his health for Fiona's sake, as any illness on his part could lead to their entire support system collapsing. However, he believes that if Fiona had been diagnosed with cancer, a treatment plan would have been in place, offering hope. In an excerpt adapted from Fiona's forthcoming book, Remember When: My Life With Alzheimer's, Martin pens: "Being brutally honest, I wish Fiona had contracted cancer instead. "It's a shocking thing to say, but at least then she might have had a chance of a cure, and certainly would have had a treatment pathway and an array of support and care packages. "But that's not there for Alzheimer's. Just like there are no funny or inspiring TikTok videos or fashion shoots with smiling, healthy, in-remission survivors," reports the Mirror. Martin continued to express his concerns, stating: "After someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they are pretty much left to their own devices. There is nothing more that can be done and you are left to cope alone." Fiona, who has two sons with Martin, echoed this sentiment in her writing: "I gently push the door open, but then, in that very moment, I sense the person I love has disappeared again. They're gone. The memory has gone. "And I'm all alone. And that's how it is for me now, living with Alzheimer's." Fiona has a family history of Alzheimer's, with both her parents having suffered from the condition. However, tests have shown that she does not carry the gene, which means her sons are not at risk of inheriting it. Despite this reassurance, Martin's concerns remain, as he reveals in the candid extract: "As time has passed, I have come to understand that if I were to fall ill or worse, the whole house of cards would collapse. "I have had to stay well for Fiona." Martin has taken on a multitude of responsibilities, including managing the household, caring for Fiona, and working a seven-day-a-week job. He admits to feeling drained, both physically and emotionally. He described the experience, writing: "Sorting the bank accounts, utility direct debits, hospital appointments, clothes, washing, parking permits, shopping, cooking, tidying the house – in fact, all the stuff I took for granted because Fiona dealt with it (as well as her own career) – became my responsibilities. "This was along with a seven-day-a-week job. It was knackering. "There were times I felt drained, physically and emotionally. "On top of the stress, the boys and I are enduring a kind of living grief – a slow goodbye to the woman we love." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
