Motor Neurone Disease (MND) featured heavily in the news last week, as we learned that former England rugby union captain Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with MND. For example, this BBC Sport article:

What is MND and are athletes more likely to be diagnosed?

What is MND?

MND is a progressive (gets worse over time) neurological (affecting the nervous system) disease. It affects the nerve tissue known as the motor neurones, which are the cells in the brain and spinal cord that send messages to muscles to control movement throughout the body. Muscles are not just responsible for helping us to walk or run, but also to speak, eat, swallow and breathe. In MND, the motor neurones become damaged and stop sending signals to the muscles, which at first leads to muscle weakness and wasting and then, eventually, severe paralysis and breathing difficulties. The progression of MND can be very rapid.

What causes MND?

MND seems to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Research to date has focused on the impact of genetics, together with environmental risks such as exposure to heavy metals and agricultural chemicals.

In recent years, research evidence has emerged that suggests a correlation (statistical association) between contact sports, such as rugby and American football, and increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and MND. In contact sports such as these, athletes are more likely to sustain multiple concussions over their lifetime. It is important to note that correlation is not causation, which means that playing contact sport might be associated with an increased risk of MND, but it does not directly cause it.

Similarly, research has revealed that in groups of individuals that take part in intensive exercise for more than 12 hours per week, the MND risk is higher, independent of any head injury risk.

More research is needed

More research is required to pinpoint the risk factors for this progressive neurological disease. When we know what the risk factors are, we can take action to reduce or mitigate them.

You can read more about current research in this area by clicking the links below.

MND Association invests in MND and traumatic brain injury research

Why some elite athletes face a higher risk of developing motor neurone disease – and what we’re doing about it