Parliamentary Inquiry into Sport and Brain Injury

UKABIF’s Dr Michael Grey participated in an in depth inquiry into sport and long-term brain injury conducted by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today.

The inquiry was chaired by Julian Knight, MP  and attended by MPs Steve Brine, Clive Efford, Kevin Brennan, John Nicholson, Heather Wheeler, Alex Davies-Jones, Giles Watling and Julie Elliott.

The inquiry initially focused on the responses of Professors Willie Stewart and Craig Ritchie. Professor Stewart explained that the connection between neurological damage and boxing has been known for a century and the last decade has seen a focus on football and rugby. Professional footballers are known to be 3.5 more likely to suffer from dementia than the general population. Brain Injury is one of twelve risk factors for dementia as published in the 2020 report of the Lancet Commission -   Dementia prevention, intervention, and care.

The group heard that the protocols in professional football are shambolic and do not allow medical staff onto the field or the time and space to make a proper assessment. One player per match experiences a brain injury in professional rugby and this number is unacceptably high.

The second half of the meeting heard from UKABIF Trustee Dr Michael Grey, Peter McCabe CEO of Headway and Richard Oakley from the Alzheimer's Society.

UKABIF highlighted the need for transparent and centrally funded research, consistent concussion guidelines for amateur sporting bodies, clubs and schools and additional training for ambulance, A&E staff and GPs.

The overall themes to emerge were the need for more research, better awareness of concussion  and training of health care staff. The group saw the need for sporting bodies to contribute financially but agreed that there should be a central body to review protocols. Elite sports should set an example of how head injury and concussion are managed.

Professor Ritchie made the point that testing for pathologies is very difficult and there is a long delay before research is published.

The committee will hear further evidence from sporting bodies in the second inquiry meeting which takes place tomorrow. The committee will then publish a report based on the inquiry’s findings.