Former England rugby players to help major brain study

Former England international rugby players are set to be recruited for a major-scientific study examining the possible long-term effects of the game on brain health. Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), together with the Rugby Football Union, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, The Institute of Occupational Medicine, University College London and Oxford University will study the possible link between a history of concussion and neurological health in former rugby players. The Drake Foundation has committed over £450,000 to funding the research. The project aims to provide a greater amount of information on the potential medium and long-term neurocognitive risks of playing rugby than is currently available. Dr Valentina Gallo, from QMUL's Blizard Institute and lead neurologist on the study, said: "This will be the first study investigating the long term effect of concussion on rugby players. Evidence suggests a possible increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases such dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Motor Neurone Disease in former contact sport athletes. But each contact sport - with different protections and different playing dynamics - exposes its players to different types of potential traumas.