Ex-Rugby Players to sue for brain damage

Recent research in the neurology field has reported that axons [nerve fibres] in women's brains are a lot thinner and they have fewer microtubules [hollow tubes that give shape to cells]

Puts a v different spin on men claiming they have women's brains

Yes they mentioned a few things; the cycle was also in relation to women's dementia in general iirc. Which also has implications for women's health. Eg hrt?

yes, i heard something about women's brains being even more at risk than men's. i think it was on women's hour. the scientist aid they were still investigating why, but probably something to do with hormones, and fluctuations due to menstrual cycle.

This study suggests more delicate brain fibres. It could all be along same lines or contributory.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51434749

Recent research in the neurology field has reported that axons [nerve fibres] in women's brains are a lot thinner and they have fewer microtubules [hollow tubes that give shape to cells]

Monday 30th Nov.

It's in this one. I did a grumpy thread about it. Didn't listen to whole thing, but did to the football but which was really good.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000pw70

yes, i heard something about women's brains being even more at risk than men's. i think it was on women's hour. the scientist aid they were still investigating why, but probably something to do with hormones, and fluctuations due to menstrual cycle.
i remember hearing about this issue generally re sport nearly 20 years ago. and i think heading the ball is banned for children playing soccer in america.
we're back to whether a child can give informed consent to something that they may regret/ may harm them later.
now where have i heard something like that recently...

Do you have a link Neurotrash please? That sounds interesting. It obviously builds on the Swansea (?) uni findings which were female rugby related.

There was an article on WH last week (Monday?) about how brains of women are more prone to damage when hit, in sports such as football or rugby, than male players.

I read something similar a while back too, they were investigating why female rugby players took longer to recover from head injuries or something along those lines.

There’s no way players in their 40s would have been told ‘this will
Increase your risk of early onset dementia’ when they started playing

There was an article on WH last week (Monday?) about how brains of women are more prone to damage when hit, in sports such as football or rugby, than male players.

One theory besides the physiology is that the menstrual cycle leaves the brain more prone to injury at certain times of the cycle.

Surely this has implications?

I agree the long term hidden risks are only becoming talked about over the past 5 years or more.

And when it comes to what they can do, there is parallels to be drawn with American football. In the effort to win, players became bigger and bigger and more damage has been done over past decades than earlier. As more money is available for professional wages.

So much can be done with monitoring scrum weights, tackling techniques etc. like with Football and headers.

However, what surprises me is that knowing this and knowing the physical weaknesses in female brains, the clubs still allow males despite the evidence to WR. Astonishing ignorance of female player safety.

Actually I think many of the risks are only now becoming clear. Increased dementia in footballers for example

Yes, it's become increasingly clear over the past 5 years or so that repeatedly heading the ball probably causes brain damage in the long term. Whereas you might be aware of the risk of experiencing an injury, you probably wouldn't be aware of the long-term risk of dementia. Though I'm not sure the governing body would have been aware of that either.

Actually I think many of the risks are only now becoming clear. Increased dementia in footballers for example

I really feel for players who have suffered long term damage from their sporting days, however really, suing? Surely it doesn't take much of a brain - even a damaged one - to know that a game with such aggressive contact isn't going to be 100% safe?

A lad I went to school with suffered a brain haemorrhage due to a bad tackle when he was playing rugby at the age of 15. We were prepared (by a priest!) for him to die. He didn't, and he still plays professionally. So he suffered a horrific injury and still chooses to play.

Players know the risks, and to suggest that they don't is ridiculous.