When former England rugby captain Lewis Moody revealed he’d been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, he joined a heartbreaking list of athletes, like Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow, whose lives were changed by the illness. 

MND is a devastating neurological condition that progressively weakens the body, and in recent years, concern has grown over whether elite sport could be a contributing factor,.  

But is there really a link between repeated head impacts and the onset of this disease, or are genetics and chance playing a greater role? 

In today’s episode, Ciara Doherty is joined by Professor Orla Hardiman, Professor of Neurology at Trinity College Dublin and Director of Ireland’s National ALS Service, to explore what we actually know about the causes of MND — and what science can and can’t tell us about its connection to sport. 

Later, Kevin Burn, CEO of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association, discusses the work of his charity and some of the help they offer to people diagnosed with the disease.

Can research bring us closer to prevention or even a cure? 

Our thanks to BBC for use of clips. 

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