Rugby players are 15 times more likely to experience fatal brain diseases like dementia. This conclusion was made by scientists from the University of Glasgow.
The study showed that rugby is a deadly sport. Such athletes are 15 times more likely to develop incurable neurological disorders. The former players of the International Rugby Union from Scotland got into the sphere of attention of scientists. They were more than twice as likely to experience senile dementia and 15 (!) times more likely to become a victim of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – one of the worst neurodegenerative diseases that kills its victims for several years.
Drinking water still recognized as hazardous to health
Retired rugby players were also about three times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Scientists have conducted the largest analysis of the health status of professional rugby players in history. And the results are already being called a quiet sports scandal, which should lead to serious upheavals in professional sports.
Playing rugby among schoolchildren should be banned
According to researchers, the reason that rugby players are more likely to suffer from severe brain diseases is repeated blows to the head during sports matches, but not craniocerebral injuries like concussions. The authors of the study fear that the current rules of rugby will only exacerbate this problem, and now it is necessary to review the number of games per season and ban contact training. (READ MORE) 
University of Glasgow
Medicine
4th most senior in the UK and largest university in Scotland. Located in Glasgow