Rugby and the dementia dilemma: The series

Neil Wolfe, dementia sufferer and All Black, at his home in New Plymouth. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A Herald investigation has found that five men from a single Ranfurly Shield-winning rugby team have been diagnosed with dementia. Their families attribute their conditions to concussions suffered during their playing days.

Part One: The connection between rugby and dementia

The Herald has uncovered a spate of dementia cases among rugby legends, raising the ugly possibility that head injuries suffered during their playing days have contributed to the disease.

READ:
• Rugby and dementia: The full story
• Head blows behind illness, say families
• Team of '64 'revered in the province'
• Your views: Should high school rugby games be 'touch' instead of tackle?
• Whose job it is to look after them?

Part Two: Medical experts speak out

Top UK neurologists and other medical experts are increasingly seeing persuasive evidence of a link between rugby and dementia.

Part Three: Future compensation

ACC says it's "quite likely" there will be treatment claims in the future for concussion-caused chronic conditions like dementia.

Part Four: Rugby boss responds

New Zealand Rugby says the issue of concussion and potential related long-term health consequences remains complicated with no definitive answers.

Part Five:

We associate dementia with ageing but there are times this debilitating condition hits hard and hits early.