Rugby players urged to donate brains to scienceRSS Feed

Professional rugby players are being urged to donate their brains to science when they die, in the hope it will improve understanding of brain injury in the future.

Boston University School of Medicine professor Robert Cantu told the Scotsman that he expects rugby players to exhibit similar damage to that seen in American football players.

The problem is, he has yet to examine the brains of rugby players.

"Rugby as a sport should encourage its athletes, especially athletes who have had issues later in life, to donate their brain upon death for study and be assessed," he told the newspaper.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a condition which is increasingly being linked to cognitive decline in athletes prone to head trauma during their careers.

The progressive degenerative disease is thought to manifest itself in the degeneration of brain tissue and a build-up of an abnormal protein known as tau.

News from Serious Law, specialist acquired brain injury solicitors

Posted by John Sherrington

Common contaminant 'increases Parkinson's risk'

14 November 2011

Risk of developing Parkinson's disease could be higher in those exposed to trichloroethylene, with the contaminant thought to increase the chances of developing the brain injury.The hazardous organic...

Read More...

Footballer Steven Davies 'could have suffered brain injury'

09 November 2011

Derby County footballer Steven Davies has spoken about his brush with brain injury, following an in-game collision.Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, the 23-year old striker explained how close he came to sustaining...

Read More...

Brain injury victim Michelle Coulson nominated for Headway award

08 November 2011

A brain injury victim who has been shortlisted for Headway's Campaigner of the Year accolade claims she "just likes helping".Michelle Coulson from Aberdeen was involved in a car crash seven...

Read More...