About the research

The Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic (ABHC) Research Programme runs alongside the Clinic at the Institute of Sports, Exercise and Health (ISEH) in London. We are currently encouraging retired footballers and non-contact sport athletes, regardless of gender, to participate in the research. Involvement in the study for retired rugby and footballers is only available to those who are already participating in the Clinic.

What does the research hope to answer?

It is possible that some retired contact sport athletes, such as football or rugby players may be at an increased risk of neurological and psychiatric problems, including post-traumatic dementias, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), for a range of reasons including their exposure to multiple head impacts through their career. CTE has been reported in rugby and football players but its prevalence remains very unclear, so it is crucial to understand this further.

The early signs of problems developing can easily be missed and it is often difficult to identify the potential causes of symptoms. Comprehensive assessment, accurate diagnosis and early intervention are key to improving long-term health and wellbeing.

The study aims to answer:
1. What are the effects of elite rugby/football participation on brain
health?
2. How common are different causes of cognitive and
psychiatric problems in retired elite rugby/football players?
3. What are the most effective ways to treat these problems?
4. What diagnostic tests are most useful for predicting the
development of significant long-term brain problems?
5. How do we best promote brain health among elite rugby/football
players?

How is the research funded?

The ABHC Research Programme is led by Professor David Sharp, Imperial College London, funded by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby (PRL), the Football Association (FA), and supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the League Managers Association (LMA).

The funding bodies are generously supporting the research, but are not able to dictate the direction, or content, of scientific publications that are produced as a result of this study.