Neurodegenerative Diseases in Male Former First-Class New Zealand Rugby Players

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Epidemiology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Growing concerns about neurodegenerative diseases in collision sports.
• Limited research specifically on Rugby Union's long-term neurological risks.
• Need for population-level data to assess disease associations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between high-level Rugby Union participation and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
• To utilize comprehensive national health records for a robust cohort study.
• To quantify the long-term risk of specific neurodegenerative conditions in rugby players.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study design in New Zealand.
• Comparison of high-level male rugby players (n=12,861) with the general male population (n=2,394,300).
• Cox proportional hazards models used to analyze mortality and hospitalisation records (1988-2023) for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, motor neuron disease, and other dementias.

Main Results:

• Rugby players showed a higher incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (6.5% vs 5.2%).
• Increased hazard ratios for any neurodegenerative disease (1.22), Alzheimer's disease (1.61), and other dementias (1.23).
• No significant differences observed for Parkinson's disease or motor neuron disease; increased risk noted around ages 70-79.

Conclusions:

• High-level Rugby Union participation is associated with a small to moderate increase in neurodegenerative disease rates.
• Factors such as playing position, level of play, duration, and match frequency correlate with increased risk.
• Findings highlight the importance of understanding long-term health impacts in elite athletes.