Former Rugby Stars Battle with Early-Onset Dementia

Recently, a report has surfaced regarding the expert who examined Paul Green's brain after he died, revealing the extent of the brain injury that crippled the former?league?great. It has been suggested by the professor that the symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE overlapped with his mental health issues.

There is a growing amount of research and publicity on CTE, repeated head knocks, and their long-term effects, including Paul Green, Mario Fenech, James Graham, and Saxton exclusive speaker Michael Lipman , among others. It's only now, after years of backlash, that CTE is finally getting the exposure it deserves, and it's starting to be acknowledged in some cases.

Born in England and raised in Sydney, Michael Lipman played ten rugby Test matches for England and played professional football for Bristol and Bath before joining the Melbourne Rebels.

At 40 years of age, he became the highest-profile retired rugby player to publicly disclose a diagnosis of early-onset dementia as a result of repeated concussions (over 30 in his lifetime.)

In an article released by Progressive Rugby, a non-profit rugby union lobby group Lipman states his diagnosis came as somewhat of a blessing as it provided some sort of relief and clarity around some of his confusion, erratic behaviour, and his urge to abuse alcohol to shield himself from a reality he could not understand.??

Expressing “Prior to my diagnosis Frankie and I were on the brink of divorce,” “I was sleeping in the car outside my own home because Frankie couldn’t tolerate my behaviour, and certainly not in front of the children. “

Players aren't the only ones affected in cases like this, but also their families as the one they love changes and worse yet, starts to fade away before their eyes.

In order to address the problem, contact sports should commit to funding research. There are independent researchers and medical professionals who have good intentions and can help players, and ultimately the future of the game including Michael's doctor Dr Rowena Mobbs .

Together with his wife Frankie and doctor Rowena Mobbs, Michael recently released a book about his struggle. The book is entitled “Concussion” and it explores a mix of personal stories and scientific inquiry, which chronicles their family’s journey with probable CTE and early onset dementia and explores the science of concussion. The book is a wake-up call to contact sports and to parents with children considering playing them.

Michael shares his story with incredible courage and candour, detailing the reality of life with sports-related dementia, diving deeper than mood swings and memory lapses - his message is urgent, moving and important.

The Guardian has announced in a move that will have ramifications for collision sports the US National Institutes of Health has formally acknowledged a causal link between repeated blows to the head and the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

This is a good first step, but there is still a long way to go before awareness and acknowledgment are drawn to the effects multiple concussions can have. For real action to be taken, how many more lives must be affected or even lost?