Researchers have hypothesized that vigorous physical activity might increase exposure to environmental toxins, facilitate the transport of toxins to the brain, increase the absorption of toxins, or increase the athlete''''s susceptibility to motor neuron disease through added physical stress.
According to a recent study, former rugby players face a significantly higher risk of developing Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The study found that retired professional rugby players have a 15 times higher risk of MND compared to the general population.
The new study shows people playing top-level contact sports are eight-and-a-half times more likely to develop motor neuron disease. The MND Association said the study raised “more questions than answers”. Scientists said the study should encourage “dramatic changes” in rugby to reduce the risks of brain injury.
MND Association funded researchers have shown that high levels of physical activity can be linked to the development of MND in some people who also have a l genetic risk. It is possible that some high-performance athletes, such as rugby players, may carry a different genetic risk to the general population.
One known cause of MND is an error in your genes with 20% of cases linked to genetic causes. Half of genetic cases will be in people who have a family history of MND. The other half of genetic cases will occur in those without a family history.
Generally, MND is believed to be caused because of a combination of environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors. Most cases of MND develop without an obvious cause. Around 1 in 10 cases are 'familial', meaning the condition is inherited. This is due to a genetic mutation, or an error in the gene.
It is thought that MND is caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors, and several possible factors have been suggested, including exposure to chemicals, fractures and injuries, smoking, military service, and engaging in some sports or high levels of exercise, but research studies have so far failed to find ...
Motor neurone disease is an uncommon condition that mainly affects people in their 60s and 70s, but it can affect adults of all ages. It's caused by a problem with cells in the brain and nerves called motor neurones. These cells gradually stop working over time. It's not known why this happens.
Our review suggests that increased susceptibility to ALS is significantly and independently associated with 2 factors: professional sports and sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma. Their combination resulted in an additive effect, further increasing this association to ALS.
Motor neurone disease (MND) affects around 5,000 people in the UK every year. There is currently no cure. An international clinical trial led by Professor Dame Pamela J Shaw in the UK has been shown to slow down progression of a type of motor neurone disease and could be a turning point for patient care.
Lifestyle causes
Certain dietary factors, such as higher intake of antioxidants and vitamin E, have been shown, at least in some studies, to decrease the risk of MND. Interestingly, increased physical fitness and lower body mass index (BMI) have been shown to be associated with a higher risk of MND.
The key presenting feature of MND is progressive, painless weakness, and thus the list of potential differential diagnoses is long (see Table 2). Despite this, and the clinical variability discussed above, the misdiagnosis rate for MND is relatively low at 7–8%.
NZ has highest rate of motor neurone disease of any country in the world | 1 News Now – NZ MND Research Network.
Frequent strenuous exercise increases the chance of developing MND in genetically at risk individuals. A new study has found frequent strenuous exercise increases the risk of developing motor neurone disease (MND) in certain people.
Motor neurone disease (MND) is a rare, degenerative nervous system condition that affects approximately 1 in 11,434 Australians.
Here we show that the number of ALS cases across the globe will increase from 222,801 in 2015 to 376,674 in 2040, representing an increase of 69%. This increase is predominantly due to ageing of the population, particularly among developing nations.
The average age of developing ALS among soccer players was 43 years compared to 63 years for the general population. “It is important to note that repeated traumatic events, heavy physical exercise and substance use could also be factors in the increased ALS risk among soccer players,” said Beghi.
The causes of ALS are unknown at present, but researchers are focusing on several possible theories, including gene mutations, overabundance of the neurotransmitter glutamate (which can be toxic to nerve cells), autoimmune response (in which the body's immune system attacks normal cells) and the gradual accumulation of ...
Inherited MND affects up to 1 in 10 people with MND and means they probably have a family history of the disease. Where this is the case, it is impossible to predict when or if a family history means MND will happen. Other triggers may still be needed for the disease to begin.
A new study looking at the impact of concussion on a group of former Scottish international rugby players has found that they were 15 times more likely to develop motor neurone disease (MND) than the general population.
Conclusions: This study adds to the evidence that pesticides, especially insecticides, fungicides, and fumigants, are risk factors for MND.
Many of the people we talked to had been experiencing symptoms for months or even years before finally getting a diagnosis. Some lived with their symptoms for a long time before deciding to go to their GP, perhaps putting them down to stress, old age, or injury. (See 'First symptoms of MND').
MND is not a common disease. It affects adults and sometimes younger adults. You are likely to be more than 40 years old at diagnosis, and most people with MND are aged between 50 and 70. Men are affected almost twice as often as women, but this varies.