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International rugby union players face higher risk of dementia

Men who played rugby union for Scotland are much more likely to develop dementia, Parkinson’s disease and motor neuron disease than the rest of the population
International rugby union players face higher risk of dementia

Men who have played international rugby union are more than twice as likely to develop dementia as the general population.

A previous study found that kicking the ball in football was linked to an increased risk of dementia, and American football players were more likely to die from neurological diseases than others.

William Stewart and colleagues at the University of Glasgow, UK, analyzed the medical histories and death certificates of 412 Scottish men.