Many professional athletes suffer concussions during the course of their careers, and head injuries are a significant concern in professional rugby, specifically. According to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, a professional rugby union player is more likely than not to sustain a concussion after roughly 25 matches. This was measured by the number of concussions per 1,000 rugby player-match-hours. For club rugby, this incidence is 87 concussions per 1,000 player-match-hours, while for international matches, it jumps to 177 per 1,000 player-match-hours​.New research has found that retired rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions have higher levels of certain proteins in their blood, which may make them more susceptible to developing diseases such as Alzheimer’s and motor neuron disease (MND).Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, results from build-up of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain. It is a progressive neurological disorder, leading to memory loss, cognitive decline, and changes in behavior.MND is a relatively rare condition that negatively impacts the brain and nerves, causing progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. It results from deteriorating motor neurons, which are the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle activity (i.e., speaking, walking, and breathing). Thus, it can have significant implications for daily functioning and overall quality of life and is generally fatal after a few years.

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The new study, led by Durham University and published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, was the first of its kind to explore specific biomarkers as part of the UK Rugby Health project. Researchers analyzed blood samples from 56 male professional athletes seven years after retirement. Of the 56, 30 had suffered more than five concussions. Their blood was compared with 26 retired rugby players who had not suffered concussions as well as retired athletes from non-contact sports.Ultimately, the team found that it is possible to measure key biomarkers using the same methods as was used in the sample of 56 to determine whether rugby players who’ve suffered concussions are likely to experience one or both disorders over the course of their lifetime.The findings have far-reaching implications for the medical community at large. If athletes' blood can be tested and monitored for the specific proteins measured, it may be possible to diagnose them early for neurodegenerative diseases, possible intervening earlier and leading to more positive treatment outcomes and prognoses.Professor Paul Chazot, the senior author on the study from Durham University’s department of biosciences, said, “The long-term effects of concussions on rugby players, football players, boxers as well as retired military personnel is a major concern, because of the link to neurodegenerative diseases. This study gives us the beginnings of a biomarker toolbox to periodically monitor the brain health of retired contact sportspeople, particularly those with a history of concussion during their career. It will also pave the way for the introduction of the necessary interventions to minimize the development of future neurodegenerative disease. We have a range of interventions currently in advanced stages of development.”The same methods may also be used to measure whether athletes from other contact sports, as well as non-sports-players who’ve had concussions are at risk of developing Alzheimer’s or MND.Co-author, Dr Karen Hind, Honorary Fellow at the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing at Durham University, stated, "This is a crucial development in the field, and we're calling for sustained efforts to define the pathways leading to concussion-induced neurodegenerative diseases.”

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On average, a professional rugby union player is more likely than not to sustain a concussion after 25 matchesTackling concussion in professional rugby union: a case–control study of tackle-based risk factors and recommendations for primary preventionConcussed rugby players more prone to MND and Alzheimer’s, new study findsFormer rugby players may be 15 times as likely to develop motor neuron disease, study finds