MND Scotland leads new expert group on sport and MND

MND Scotland has convened a new Expert Working Group to explore the potential link between sport and motor neuron disease (MND).

The charity has taken the move in response to a number of scientific publications which indicate that there may be an increased risk of developing MND amongst people who participate in elite-level sport, including football and rugby.

The group includes experts in sport and MND from around the world. It will seek to better understand the possible link, determine what research questions need to be asked in order to identify any underlying causes, as well as determine what resources are available, or required, to answer them.

To achieve this, MND Scotland has brought together international expert researchers from different disciplines with MND neurologists from the UK and USA, and representatives from the world of sport including: Dr James Robson (Scottish Rugby), Dr Niall Elliott (SportScotland) and Sene Naoupu (former head of strategic projects and research (International Rugby Players association), elite sport doctoral student, former Ireland rugby international, and rugby broadcast analyst).

The group also includes representation from people living with MND, as well as from MND Scotland, the MND Association and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

Dr Jane Haley, Director of Research for MND Scotland, said: “The Sport and MND Expert Working Group has already met twice – once in November 2022 and again in February 2023. MND Scotland Chairs these meetings, setting the agenda for the discussions, and ensuring resulting actions are delivered. We anticipate meeting about every 2-3 months.

“Importantly, we have also worked quickly to ensure that the BT Murrayfield Brain Health Clinic, which works with former Scotland rugby players as part of a programme of cognitive health monitoring, has advice from specialist MND neurologists. This is to make sure that former players who may show possible symptoms of MND are picked up and referred to a specialist as quickly as possible.

“We realise the questions being asked about whether there is an increased risk of developing MND following elite sporting activity, and the underlying cause of any link, is something that may be concerning for people. That’s why MND Scotland will be working with our colleagues at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and MND Association, with input and help from members of the rugby and sporting communities, to develop communications from the group and keep the public informed.

“We’d like to thank everyone who is giving their time to this project, they are all experts in their field and are enthusiastically contributing to these important discussions.”

We would like to thank all of our generous supporters and fundraisers for enabling us to undertake this important leadership role in the MND community. Please donate today to help support our research work.

Full list of Sport and MND Expert Working Group (in alphabetical order)

Dr Nick Cole, Head of Research, MND Association
Dr Niall Elliott, Head of Sports Medicine, SportScotland
Dr George Gorrie, Consultant Neurologist, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Glasgow
Dr Jane Haley, Director of Research, MND Scotland (Chair)
Ms Jess Lee, Director of Research, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
Dr Donald Lyall, Lecturer in Public Health Epidemiology, University of Glasgow
Mr Stevie Morris, living with MND, keen football supporter and Heart’s Football Club 2023 Foundation of Hearts Awardee
Ms Sene Naoupu, former head of strategic projects and research (International Rugby Players association), elite sport doctoral student, former Ireland rugby international, and rugby broadcast analyst
Dr Sabrina Paganoni MD, PhD, MND physician investigator, Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, USA
Professor Craig Ritchie, Director, Brain Health Clinic, BT Murrayfield; CEO and Founder, Scottish Brain Sciences
Dr James Robson, Team Doctor, Scottish National Rugby Union Team
Dr Andrea Schneider, Neurologist and Epidemiologist, University of Pennylvania, USA
Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, MND Neurologist and Director of Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience
Professor Mike Snyder, Professor of Genetics, Stanford University, USA
Professor Willie Stewart, Consultant Neuropathologist, University of Glasgow