A new study led by Dr Neil Graham, affiliated with ISEH through the Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic (ABHC) based at our facility and along with co-authors including Prof. Mathew Wilson, Jessica Hain, Erin Rooney, Richard Sylvester and Prof. David Sharp from ABHC, reveals that former elite rugby players, especially those who played in forward positions, showed unique changes in their blood proteins linked to brain health. The most consistent change was a decrease in a specific protein, which could one day help identify individuals at higher risk of brain problems early on.
This research was published in J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry (JNNP)
Playing contact sports like rugby union has been linked to a higher risk of developing brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). These conditions are thought to result from repeated head impacts and concussions.
In this study, the authors looked at whether proteins in the blood could show differences linked to playing elite rugby.
Participants gave blood samples, which were tested for 124 different proteins using a sensitive lab test called NULISA. They also had brain scans (3T MRI) and completed detailed questionnaires about their rugby career and head injury history. Statistical tests looked for links between rugby exposure, protein levels, brain size, and traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) symptoms.
Results:
The authors studied 197 former elite rugby players and 33 people who never played rugby.
- 24 ex-players (12%) showed signs of TES, but none had dementia.
- Compared with controls, former players had lower blood levels of certain brain proteins:
- GFAP (a marker of brain cell support),
- KLK6 (a protective enzyme), and
- SNAP25 (involved in nerve communication).
- Forwards had lower levels of BACE1 and Aβ38 (proteins related to amyloid, seen in Alzheimer’s disease), but higher levels of phospho-tau181, a protein linked to brain injury and tau buildup.
- KLK6 was also lower in backs than in controls.
- These protein levels did not relate to career length, concussion history, brain volume, or TES grouping.
The authors found changes in blood biomarkers in former players that may affect how the brain handles amyloid beta. This could help track brain health in athletes who play contact sports – but more long-term research is needed to follow these changes over time.
Dr Neil Graham, lead author shared:
“Our work shows the potential to use a panel of ultra sensitive blood tests to understand what is happening in the brain . While we found a distinctive fingerprint of changes in ex rugby players, its clinical significance today is unclear. Hence, it will be vital to follow up our cohort over time to clarify what the findings mean for brain health, and how we can best help people at higher risk of long-term problems.”
The UK Advanced Brain Health Clinic (ABHC) study was created to find ways to protect brain health, reduce dementia risk, improve predictions and diagnose brain changes earlier.
