Dave Bolton Becomes Latest Rugby League Player To Donate Brain To Science Following Dementia Battle

Dave Bolton's brain will be donated to science, his family has revealed.

The English rugby league legend recently passed away following his long battle with dementia.

He was 83 years of age at the time of his death but had an extensive history of concussions throughout his decorated rugby league career.

But in the wake of his passing, Bolton's family have decided to donate his brain to science so that it can be examined for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - most commonly known as CTE.

The degenerative brain disease has been found in a number of athletes that have sustained repeated knocks to the head throughout their careers and can lead to dementia and depression.

And while CTE's ties to rugby league is still relatively unknown, it seems the disorder is becoming more and more common in American Football.

Star linebacker Junior Seau became one of the first high-profile athletes to be diagnosed with the disease at the age of 43 in 2012.

Shockwaves were sent through the sporting world when news broke that the 12-time Pro Bowler had committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest so that his brain could be used for research.

Studies later revealed that he had, in fact, developed CTE.

PA

Back in 2017, neuropathologist Dr Ann McKee conducted a study on the brains of 111 former NFL players.

The research found that all but one of them had developed CTE.

And it appears Australian scientists are now stepping up their efforts to detect the disease in rugby league players too.

In 2019 the first evidence of CTE was discovered in rugby league players after research was conducted on the brains of two middle-aged people who played more than 150 games between them.

"It's the wake-up call we needed," professor Michael Buckland told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"We're not immune and Australia is no different to anywhere else. I think we needed something like this to focus everybody's mind on the issue."

Bolton now join the likes of Peter Sterling and James Graham as former rugby league players who will donate their brains for scientific purposes.

Rest in Peace, Dave.

One of the game's greats.

Topics: Concussion in sport, Rugby League, nrl, NFL, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry