Can Rugby cause MND?

[The Daddy]

If this topic has been raised elsewhere apologies. But in light of Rob Burrow's sad situation it has been mentioned that head trauma from contact sports may cause MND. 

Is there anything the sport can do to research this? Should the governing bodies be doing more? 

[One F in Wakefield]

27 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

If this topic has been raised elsewhere apologies. But in light of Rob Burrow's sad situation it has been mentioned that head trauma from contact sports may cause MND. 

Is there anything the sport can do to research this? Should the governing bodies be doing more? 

I suppose so but the majority of the research discounts lifestyle (which I assume covers playing sport) as a cause.  Its just one of them.  Otherwise it would be much more common in boxers and such like.

[Click]

It is an interesting case, as there are a few ex RL and RU players that have MND, but there are a lot of people in general society whose bodies don't go through anywhere near the same kind of punishment that also get MND.

 

It is an awful disease, that needs a lot more research to be done on it as a whole, rather than just trying to find links with RL IMO.

[saddleworth]

Afraid that it is at the bottom of the league regarding charitable donations as compared with the more "fashionable" organisations.

[Hullfan]

No it can't, next!!! 

[Lowdesert]

Can the mods take this thread out.  It’s a sad enough occasion without debate right now.

No offence intended D.

 

[The Daddy]

3 hours ago, Lowdesert said:

Can the mods take this thread out.  It’s a sad enough occasion without debate right now.

No offence intended D.

 

Why shouldn't it be debated? 

[Click]

Even Burrow was asked about it during his BBC interview, and if he thought there was a link between being a sportsman and MND.

I think his response was that it was "interesting", but can't recall exactly.

[The Vet]

does anyone know factually if MND is more common in men than women? Of all the people both famous & people who Iv heard locally to me I can’t recall any females being affected

[Click]

24 minutes ago, The Vet said:

does anyone know factually if MND is more common in men than women? Of all the people both famous & people who Iv heard locally to me I can’t recall any females being affected

According to this: https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/m/motor-neurone-disease/symptoms-of-motor-neurone-disease.html

It is about 60% men, to 40% women

[Wakefield Ram]

15 minutes ago, The Vet said:

does anyone know factually if MND is more common in men than women? Of all the people both famous & people who Iv heard locally to me I can’t recall any females being affected

A quick Google answers this question and others above

Men roughly 50% more likely to suffer from MND than women

Head trauma - no clear association with MND

Vigorous physical activity not necessarily CONTACT sport (work/sport-related) - increases the risk of MND but this may be to people pre-disposed to MND rather than causing it. And physical activity decreases the risk of a number of other diseases.

But lots of information/research out on the internet

[Wellsy4HullFC]

19 hours ago, Hullfan said:

No it can't, next!!! 

Don't dismiss things for others because you're not comfortable with it. It stops progress.

[The Daddy]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7813003/amp/Urgent-research-needed-contact-sports-link-motor-neurone-disease-Rob-Burrow.html

[Mr Plow]

Getting knocks to the head is bad for the brain. In the US they have banned kids under 10? from heading the ball and the Scottish FA are going to do the same.

How many ex footballers from the 50s, 60s and 70s have dementia. Of course atm there’s no concrete evidence between   Head knocks and brain injuries such as dementia and MND 

[TheDuke]

I did read about the kids heading footballs

theyre a bit different to the balls used in then 60s 

[Padge]

Maybe the link is the other way around, people likely to, or already have it but show no symptoms as it is a dormant disease, develop MND are more likely to enjoy contact sports. The old genes can be funny buggers.

 

[Cas Vegas]

On 16/01/2020 at 12:45, Wakefield Ram said:

A quick Google answers this question and others above

Men roughly 50% more likely to suffer from MND than women

Head trauma - no clear association with MND

Vigorous physical activity not necessarily CONTACT sport (work/sport-related) - increases the risk of MND but this may be to people pre-disposed to MND rather than causing it. And physical activity decreases the risk of a number of other diseases.

But lots of information/research out on the internet

Thanks for that, Big Lad. Hope you're well.

[Sports Prophet]

On 16/01/2020 at 04:53, The Daddy said:

Why shouldn't it be debated? 

Because I don’t know of any medical scientists on this forum and as such, no one here is suitable to give us a qualified opinion.
As such, any theorising by us on here is probably a little insensitive at this moment.

[winnyason]

Head injuires from the 3 major ball contact sports in Nfl, rugby union and rugby league are going to major issue for all sports but it's unclear or mnd is linked. 

[Wakefield Ram]

On 16/01/2020 at 19:27, Mr Plow said:

Getting knocks to the head is bad for the brain. In the US they have banned kids under 10? from heading the ball and the Scottish FA are going to do the same.

How many ex footballers from the 50s, 60s and 70s have dementia. Of course atm there’s no concrete evidence between   Head knocks and brain injuries such as dementia and MND 

The report on the increased rates of dementia amongst professional footballers did not identify any difference between goalkeepers (who very rarely head a ball) and outfield players.