Only 'mild' memory effects found from rugby concussion

A study on the long-term effects of concussions in former Scotland rugby players has found they displayed "only some mild memory effects".

Fifty-two ex-internationals with an average of 14 concussions each were examined by the University of Glasgow.



"Overall there is not a suggestion of widespread decline in daily function in ex-rugby internationalists who had a high number of repeat concussions," said Tom McMillan, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology.

"Although some differences in memory were found, these were mild overall and their cause uncertain.

"Despite a high number of repeat concussions in the retired rugby players, effects on mental health, social or work function were not evident some 20 years after they had stopped playing."

It found that "despite multiple concussive injuries in the retired rugby players, there were not significant effects on daily life overall".

The former internationals performed less well on a test of verbal learning, and a separate test of fine co-ordination of the dominant hand, but the study says these effects were "mild".

The research also found that there were no "significant associations" between the number of concussions and the participants' performances on cognitive tests.

Story via @ BBC.

Copy of the "Long-term health outcomes after exposure to repeated concussion in elite level: rugby union players" research paper available via BMJ.