Signs of cognitive dysfunction in adult players of club level rugby

The objective of this study was to investigate players of club level Rugby Union (hereafter rugby) over one rugby season, for signs of residual cognitive dysfunction due to repeated concussive events incurred during long-term participation in the sport. Adult male players of club level rugby, without a diagnosis of a concussion during the season (n = 20), were compared with non-contact club level sports participants (n = 22) of equivalent sex, age, education, and estimated IQ at pre-, mid-, and post-season intervals. Measures included the ImPACT Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, Visual Motor Speed and Reaction Time composites, and the Purdue Pegboard test. Statistical group comparisons revealed consistently poorer performance for rugby players compared with controls for ImPACT Visual Motor Speed and Reaction Time composites at all test intervals, and for the Purdue Pegboard tasks at the first two test intervals. Repeat measures comparisons across the three test intervals demonstrated differential learning pat...