Increased Alzheimer's Risk in Rugby players w/ The University of Auckland’s Dr Stephanie D’Souza: 8 September, 2025

Last week, a study was published in the Sports Medicine Journal revealing that over an extended period, male high-level rugby players were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.

This comes as increasing research and attention is being paid to head trauma, and the way it affects the individual long term.

Monday Wire Producer Alex spoke to Dr Stephanie D’Souza, co-author of the study and Senior lecturer at the University of Auckland, about the Study’s results, what they tell us about head and brain injuries, and what that means for New Zealand’s national sport.