New Zealand scientists studying the brains of rugby players have made a significant breakthrough that could allow Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to be diagnosed in living players.
Until now, the disease linked to repeated head knocks could only be confirmed after someone had died.
But new patterns of inflammation in affected people have been identified by Auckland University researchers, opening the door for diagnostic testing while someone is alive.
The discovery, a world first, could have far-reaching consequences for the treatment and management of people with head injuries, including rugby players.
“Our American colleagues are very confident that, within five to 10 years, we will have a more robust set of diagnostic tools for CTE,” said Dr Helen Murray, a research fellow at the Centre for Brain Research.
“Maybe it’s something we can actually treat and deal with during someone’s life. And that can be done through pharmaceuticals, thinking about resting and letting that inflammation go away.”
Flanker Dalton Papali’i, who missed the Blues’ 21-20 defeat to the Brumbies on Friday after being knocked out against the Hurricanes the previous week, said the discovery was exciting for the game.
“I think it’s awesome, because if you can know you’re going down that track of CTE hopefully you can plan around it,” he said. “Rugby is only a small part of life and you’ve got everything to live for afterwards.
“I would want to know. It would be a tough pill to swallow knowing that but, at the end of the day, I have a family who care about me and depend on me and I would want to try to set them up as best as I can before I get hit, if I get hit.”
The diagnosis and treatment of concussion is an extremely complex and controversial area, and something not just restricted to rugby. Sports have developed strict protocols around diagnosing and treating head knocks but it’s not an exact science.
Various sports have adapted rules to try to reduce head impacts but many sports are also facing legal challenges around the treatment of players who suffered head injuries.
‘Billy would rather have his life and his family’
The family of Billy Guyton, who played halfback for various teams including the Blues, Tasman and Māori All Blacks, donated his brain to Auckland University for research purposes after his death in 2023.
Analysis conducted in New Zealand and Australia confirmed Guyton had stage 2 CTE, becoming the first New Zealand-based professional player to be officially diagnosed with the disease.
Guyton had retired from rugby in 2018 after repeated concussions.
“I think [the discovery] would be important to [Billy] but, at the end of the day, he’d rather have his life and his family, rather than being a hero trying to help others out,” said Guyton’s father, John Guyton, on hearing about the university findings.
“Giving his brain over was the right thing to do. It would certainly stop what Billy had to go through and what we as a family had to go through.
“For them to be able to diagnose early has to be good for people because it’s becoming more and more common. I’ve met a few and connected with a few. They’re not just rugby players. These are everyday people who have knocked themselves around.”
The breakthrough was discovered by the Auckland University research team after examining the brain tissue of dozens of donors, including Guyton’s. The presence of tau proteins in someone with CTE was well known but Murray and her team discovered other proteins linked to inflammation.
“What we found is there’s a pattern of inflammation around blood vessels in CTE that is quite different to what we see in people who don’t have CTE,” Murray said.
New Zealand Rugby said they were aware of the research being done at Auckland University into brain injuries and the link with dementia.
“NZR welcome any research that can help us better understand and manage the risks of brain injuries and their effects on health,” New Zealand Rugby chief scientist Dr Ken Quarrie said in a statement to 1News.
“We will continue to take a precautionary approach to player safety and focus on reducing and mitigating the risk of injury and exposure.”