What is MND and are rugby players more likely to be diagnosed with the illness?

The rugby world has been rocked by the news today that former England captain Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

Moody, 47, who was a part of England’s World Cup-winning squad of 2003, fought back the tears as he bravely opened up about his devastating news to the BBC’s Sally Nugent, alongside his wife Annie.

The legendary ex-Leicester Tigers flanker discovered that he had MND after complaining of weakness in his shoulder while working out in the gym, with physiotherapy failing to improve the problem.

Subsequent scans revealed that nerves in Moody’s brain and spinal cord had been damaged by MND.

An emotional Moody, who has two sons, Dylan, 17, and Ethan, 15, admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis and not yet ready to reach out to others suffering with the muscle-wasting condition.

Moody – a former British and Irish Lion – is just the latest high-profile figure in rugby to be diagnosed with the illness, with the likes of Doddie Weir, Joost van der Westhuizen, Rob Burrow and Ed Slater all sharing their stories in recent years.

‘There’s something about looking the future in the face and not wanting to really process that at the minute,’ Moody told the BBC.

‘It’s not that I don’t understand where it’s going. We understand that. But there is absolutely a reluctance to look the future in the face for now.’

Moody, who was capped 71 times by his country, added: ‘You’re given this diagnosis of MND and we’re rightly quite emotional about it, but it’s so strange because I feel like nothing’s wrong.

‘I don’t feel ill, I don’t feel unwell. My symptoms are very minor. I have a bit of muscle wasting in the hand and the shoulder.

‘I’m still capable of doing anything and everything. And hopefully that will continue for as long as is possible.’

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The rugby fraternity – and beyond – have wasted little time in rallying around Moody, flooding social media with messages of love and support for the three-time Six Nations winner.

Meanwhile, Geordan Murphy, Moody’s long-time team-mate at Leicester, has set up a GoFundMe page ‘to raise funds for the needs Lewis and Annie will have following his diagnosis’ and ‘the associated causes they choose to support once they have taken stock of where best to channel their efforts’.

At the time of writing, the fundraising appeal has raised over £12,000 towards its intended £130,000 target, with more than 300 donations made in the space of just four hours.

‘Lewis is simply the most kind and inspirational person, as well as being known for all he achieved on a rugby pitch with Leicester, Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions,’ Murphy wrote.

What is MND?

Motor neurone disease (MND) causes muscle weakness which progressively gets worse over months or years.

Messages from motor neurones in the spine and brain gradually stop reaching muscles, which causes them to weaken, stiffen and waste.

Tragically, there is currently no cure for MND, but there are various treatments that can help manage symptoms for as long as possible.

The condition usually, but not always, develops over the age of 50.

Individuals with MND have a reduced life expectancy, but life expectancy can vary depending on which form of MND has been diagnosed.

How is MND diagnosed?

Neurologists can typically diagnose MND following a patient being referred by a GP.

Tests that help diagnose MND include blood tests, tests on the nerves, and MRI scans.

MND symptoms can progress at varying speeds, which can make diagnosing the condition challenging.

How many people are affected by MND and is there a difference between MND and ALS?

MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. Overall, there is a one in 300 risk of getting MND across a person’s lifetime.

Different forms of MND affect people in different ways. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of MND, causing weakness and wasting in the limbs, muscle stiffness and cramps.

Early symptoms are usually tripping up or dropping things. Life expectancy is typically two to five years.

Bulbar onset MND or progressive bulbar palsy (PBP) mainly affects the muscles of the face, throat and tongue, with early signs including slurring of speech or difficulty swallowing.

Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) affects fewer people, while primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) is a rare form of MND.

Is there a direct link between rugby/sport and MND?

A 2022 study from the University of Glasgow, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, found that former international rugby players had around a 2.5 times higher risk of neurodegenerative disease compared to the rest of the population, with a 15 times higher risk of MND.

Led by consultant neuropathologist Prof Willie Stewart, experts compared health outcomes among 412 male, Scottish, former international rugby players and over 1,200 matched individuals from the general population.

Prof Stewart said at the time his study was published: ‘I am genuinely concerned about what is happening in the modern game, and that if, in 20 years’ time, we repeat this study we would see something even more concerning.

‘Rugby has talked a lot and done a lot about head injury management and whether it can reduce head injury during training.

‘Those conversations have gone on a while and the pace of progress is pretty slow.’

Other research has suggested that people who play football at a professional level also have an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease.

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