Rugby brain damage "mild"

Monday October 10th, 2016

The long-term effects on the brain of playing rugby may be limited, according to a new UK study.

Glasgow University researchers said they could not find any "significant" impact on retired international rugby players.

The findings came from a study of 52 former Scottish players.

The players admitted, on average, to having experienced 14 instances of concussion during their playing careers.

The researchers compared them with 29 volunteers.

The findings have been published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The researchers found a "mild" difference in tests of verbal learning and in the coordination of the dominant hand.

Researcher Professor Tom McMillan said: “Despite a high number of repeat concussions in the retired rugby players, effects on mental health, social or work function were not evident some twenty years after they had stopped playing.

“Overall there is not a suggestion of widespread decline in daily function in ex-rugby internationalists who had a high number of repeat concussions. Although some differences in memory were found, these were mild overall and their cause uncertain.”

Long-term health outcomes after exposure to repeated concussion in elite level: rugby union players. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 7 October 2016 [abstract]

Tags: Brain & Neurology | Fitness | UK News

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