Retired rugby players with concussion history have biomarkers that indicate risk of neurodegenerative diseases
By Runa Katayama. This article was initially published in the 12/19/24 edition of our Concussion Update newsletter; please consider subscribing.
In a new study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, researchers involved in the UK Rugby Health Project found that retired rugby players who have a history of concussion have altered levels of specific proteins in their blood, indicating greater neural damage than their uninjured peers. These proteins include t-tau and p-tau 181, which are associated with neurodegeneration. A University of Durham press release suggests, “If athletes’ blood can be tested and monitored for these specific proteins, it may be possible to diagnose them early for neurodegenerative diseases and provide early interventions. ”
Norah Alanazi et al. evaluated 30 randomly selected retired male rugby players with a significant history of concussion. They compared the retired players with 26 non-contact sport athletes to “assess differences in specific biomarkers…focusing on biomarkers associated with Alzheimer’s, ALS, and CTE.” Serum biomarkers, plasma cytokines, and biomarkers associated with exosomes were analyzed with ELISA assays.
The study authors identified that biomarkers of total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau181) were elevated in the group of rugby players with previous concussion history. Elevated T-tau in the cerebrospinal fluid has been “associated with neuronal and axonal degeneration,” and p-tau 181 has been “suggested as a promising blood-based biomarker” that anticipates Alzheimer’s. Additionally, these retired rugby players with a concussion history “had lower levels of a different so-called retinoid transport protein which is important for the development and functioning of the brain.”
The differences in levels of biomarkers in athletes with concussion history show that these biomarkers could be an early indicator for future neurodegenerative diseases. The press release mentions that this study serves as a “beginnings of a biomarker toolbox to periodically monitor brain health” for retired athletes with concussion history. Further clinical trials to test the efficacy of interventions and a longitudinal follow-up with the study subjects are needed to validate current levels of proteins and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
