BRAIN Health Clinic opens
The Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic, which provides a specialist pathway for retired elite male and female rugby players between the ages of 30-55 and may have concerns over their individual brain health, has officially opened its doors.
The clinic, which is open to former England internationals (men’s, women’s and sevens) or those who have played elite club rugby in England, is located at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) in central London, and is operated by independent experts Professor David Sharp and Dr Richard Sylvester in partnership with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby (PRL)
All players attending will first undergo a comprehensive set of half day assessments at ISEH including:
■ A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment including a range of tests of their cognitive function.
■ Advanced Magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI) using a range of highly-sensitive scanning techniques able to identify subtle structural and functional changes to the brain.
■ Blood tests to identify treatable causes of neurological or psychiatric problems.
■ Ultrasensitive blood biomarker assessment to determine the presence/signs of neurodegeneration or inflammation within the brain.
Once baseline test results are acquired and consolidated, retired players will return to ISEH 4-8 weeks later to have a face-to-face neurological consultation from an expert in the assessment and management of post-traumatic and neurodegenerative disorders.
Any treatment needs or brain health actions will be shared with the player and their General Practitioner.
This process will be repeated two and four years later to assess any time-related changes in brain health.
The clinic is supported by an integrated research programme to examine the risk, causes, assessment and management of neurological, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms occurring following participation in elite rugby.