An Australia-first study tracked six former rugby players during life and after their death. All had at least one degenerative brain condition.
Four more former rugby players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy after death, adding to the growing body of evidence supporting the link between contact sport and the degenerative brain disorder.
Evidence of six other neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s, Lewy body disease and amnesia were also found in all six brains. The total time they spent playing the game ranged from 22 to 33 years, and the duration of their careers at the elite level ranged from eight to 19 years.All six had received treatment for at least one documented neurological disease or condition. One patient had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, another had Parkinson’s, another had Alzheimer’s and experienced seizures, and another had a diagnosed seizure disorder.