Dr Michelle Dickinson: nanotechnologist on the research confirmed retired rugby players are more likely to develop Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease

A new study out this week finds that retired rugby players who have suffered multiple concussions have abnormal levels of certain proteins in their blood - making them more likely to develop diseases such as Alzheimer's and motor neurone disease (MND).

The research, published in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences, compared 30 retired male athletes - including both rugby league and rugby union players - who had had five concussions during their careers to 26 retired sportsmen who had no history of concussion.

They found that the blood samples of players who had had five or more concussions during their careers had higher levels of certain proteins in their blood which indicated neural damage when compared to the control group.

Specifically, higher levels of proteins called serum t-tau and tau-p181, both of which play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s and motor neuron disease were found in the group who had suffered concussions.

They also found that the rugby players who had been concussed in their career had lower levels of a different so-called retinoid transport protein, which is important for the development and functioning of the brain.

The study showed that it could be possible to measure specific biomarkers through a blood test that could predict possible future disease in athletes who have suffered multiple traumas to the head. 

The research team strongly recommends that players of contact sports should be monitored after they retire, especially if they have suffered concussions and suggest that by testing early, players could receive early interventions and help for neurodegenerative diseases. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks EDB and it's time.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
To look for our science study of the weekend. I'm
joined by doctor Mischeldikinson. And more research has been done
on retired rugby players.

Speaker 3 (00:21):
Yeah, we've touched on this a few times over the
last few years, but this is some really big research
that sadly isn't good news. But it's the news that
we all sort of knew was coming when it comes
to rugby players. And we know that rugby is a big,
KEYWI sport, whether it's union or league. We love our rugby,
but we also know that a lot of head knocks
is probably not good for us. And so this is

(00:44):
looking at some very specific proteins that are being formed
in their brain. So it's published in the Journal of
Molecular Sciences. It's open source. You can go and have
a read if you're interested. And they basically took thirty
retired male athletes, mostly rugby, league and union players, who
had had at least five concussions during their career. They

(01:06):
then compared them to twenty six retired sports people who
were very similar in build and everything. Else but had
not had concussion in their careers, so from non contact sports,
and they just did some blood testing between them and
they found a significant difference. Now this is important because
we've always gone we're pretty sure that these head knocks
are causing some things like motor neuron disease Alzheimer's in

(01:30):
later life. And so that's what they found is proteins
in their blood that indicate brain damage in all of
those athletes who had concussions during their careers. So they're
looking at very specific proteins. One of them is called
t tau and one of is called TAUPE, one of
which they were high levels elevated levels in the players

(01:51):
who'd had concussion, and we know that both of these
proteins play a role in the development of Alzheimer's and
motor neuron disease. They also found low levels of what's
called a retinoid transport protein, which we know is a
protein really important for development and functioning of the brain.
So very clear evidence with I mean, it's a relatively
small group, but it's a very specific group of people

(02:14):
that find that there are specific biomarkers that are indicating
and could maybe help to predict whether or not your
high head contact sports career is going to have a
significant effect on your brain health later on in your life. Now,
what these researchers are really pushing is going, look, we
know what these markers are. Now, please please, please have

(02:36):
a system so that if you know you've had a
few head knocks, get your blood monitored and know that
there's a way that there's going to be a system
that you can have an early diagnosis. You can see
if you're going to be at more risk of developing
Alzheimer's on your own disease, and then we can get
treatments to you much much faster before you start to
have symptoms of some of these horrific diseases. And I

(02:59):
think it's a really important cry. I'd really like to
raise the awareness of it. We have so many of
our kids who play rugby in school and we're not
looking at the head knocks, we're not counting them. And
this is really clear it's got a significant effect.

Speaker 2 (03:13):
So is the suggestion to have it when you're younger,
implying or when you're retired to be checking the blood.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
They suggest when you're retired. I go one step further
and go look it's easy to get a blood test,
you know specifically what the biomarkers and the proteins are
that you're looking for. Why don't we just start doing
this now rather than waiting until it's too late and
then trying to deal with somebody who already has symptoms,
who's so late in the development of this disease there's

(03:39):
very little we can do for them, Whereas actually both
of these diseases is there are new treatments coming out
now that can really help to minimize the symptoms. So
Journal of Molecular Science is anybody who's interested in things like,
you know, if you've done a rugby sport and you've
had a few head knocks in your life, what are
you worried about? Have a look and let's raise the
awareness about maybe being proactive.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Thank you so much, Michelle.

Speaker 1 (04:02):
For more from the Sunday session with friend Jessica Rudken,
listen live and news talks it be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.