Experts discover trigger for deadly motor neurone disease

[Sly Saint]

Fresh concerns have been raised over the safety of contact sports after experts uncovered evidence that young rugby players who suffered head injuries were at risk of deadly motor neurone disease.

In two trials, British and US scientists also linked sports-related concussions with dementia and Parkinson-like problems, including tremours and movement difficulty in later life.

The UK experts discovered found players who had been concussed had higher levels of proteins in their blood that may make them more prone to developing the diseases.

The findings come after the death of Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow, 41, after a four-and-a-half-year battle with motor neurone disease.

The rare and incurable condition affects the brain and nerves, robbing sufferers of their ability to move, to eat and eventually breathe.

Dr Karen Hind, UK Rugby Health project lead, honorary fellow at the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing at Durham University and co-author of the first said: 'This is a crucial development in the field.

'We're calling for sustained efforts to define the pathways leading to concussion-induced neurodegenerative diseases.'

Professor Paul Chazot, an expert in the treatment of central nervous system diseases at Durham University and study co-author added: '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 minimise the development of future neurodegenerative disease. '

Experts discover trigger for deadly motor neurone disease (msn.com)

 

[Ash]

Experts discover trigger for deadly motor neurone disease (msn.com)

Kill it.
Before more generations of young men are buried by their fathers.

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

Concussion-Related Biomarker Variations in Retired Rugby Players and Implications for Neurodegenerative Disease Risk: The UK Rugby Health Study
Alanazi, Norah; Fitzgerald, Melinda; Hume, Patria; Hellewell, Sarah; Horncastle, Alex; Anyaegbu, Chidozie; Papini, Melissa G.; Hargreaves, Natasha; Halicki, Michal; Entwistle, Ian; Hind, Karen; Chazot, Paul

The health and well-being of retired rugby union and league players, particularly regarding the long-term effects of concussions, are of major concern. Concussion has been identified as a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), in athletes engaged in contact sports. This study aimed to assess differences in specific biomarkers between UK-based retired rugby players with a history of concussion and a non-contact sports group, focusing on biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s, ALS, and CTE.

We randomly selected a sample of male retired rugby or non-contact sport athletes (n = 56). The mean age was 41.84 ± 6.44, and the mean years since retirement from the sport was 7.76 ± 6.69 for participants with a history of substantial concussions (>5 concussions in their career) (n = 30). The mean age was 45.75 ± 11.52, and the mean years since retirement was 6.75 ± 4.64 for the healthy controls (n = 26). Serum biomarkers (t-tau, RBP-4, SAA, Nf-L, and retinol), plasma cytokines, and biomarkers associated with serum-derived exosomes (Aβ42, p-tau181, p-tau217, and p-tau231) were analyzed using validated commercial ELISA assays. The results of the selected biomarkers were compared between the two groups.

Biomarkers including t-tau and p-tau181 were significantly elevated in the history of the substantial concussion group compared to the non-contact sports group (t-tau: p < 0.01; p-tau181: p < 0.05). Although between-group differences in p-tau217, p-tau231, SAA, Nf-L, retinol, and Aβ42 were not significantly different, there was a trend for higher levels of Aβ42, p-tau217, and p-tau231 in the concussed group. Interestingly, the serum-derived exosome sizes were significantly larger (p < 0.01), and serum RBP-4 levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the highly concussed group.

These findings indicate that retired athletes with a history of multiple concussions during their careers have altered serum measurements of exosome size, t-tau, p-tau181, and RBP-4. These biomarkers should be explored further for the prediction of future neurodegenerative outcomes, including ALS, in those with a history of concussion.

Link | PDF (International Journal of Molecular Sciences) [Open Access]

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

Published the same week one of NZ's well-known rugby players died of this disease.

Former All Blacks hooker, advocate for troubled youth and Dancing with the Stars winner Norm Hewitt has died, aged 55.

A statement from his family said Hewitt, who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, died overnight.