MND Risk in Professional Sportspeople: IIAC Evidence Review
Summary
The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) published an information note reviewing evidence on motor neurone disease (MND) risk among professional sportspeople. While acknowledging stakeholder interest and acknowledging the evidence base is stronger than in 2016, IIAC concluded the evidence remains insufficiently clear or consistent to recommend prescription of MND as an industrial disease for professional sportspeople. The Council has commissioned additional reviews on cognitive impairment and Parkinson's disease and will revisit the topic when further studies provide additional information.
What changed
The IIAC published an information note concluding that despite a strengthened evidence base since 2016, the link between professional sport and motor neurone disease remains insufficiently established for prescription purposes under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. The Council is aware of ongoing and planned studies that may provide additional relevant information.\n\nProfessional sportspeople seeking industrial injuries benefits related to MND will not yet be able to rely on a presumption of occupational causation based on this review. IIAC has also commissioned separate reviews on cognitive impairment and Parkinson's disease, which may inform future deliberations. Stakeholders should monitor for updates as additional research becomes available.
What to do next
- Monitor for updates from IIAC on further studies regarding MND and professional sport
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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Motor neurone disease in professional sportspeople: IIAC information note
This is the Council's note about the evidence concerning the risk of motor neurone disease (MND) among professional sportspeople.
From: Industrial Injuries Advisory Council and Department for Work and Pensions Published 9 October 2025 Get emails about this page
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Motor neurone disease in professional sportspeople: IIAC information note
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With considerable interest from stakeholders, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) have reviewed the evidence concerning the risk of neurodegenerative diseases (an umbrella term for a number of diseases) in professional sportspeople.
IIAC takes the view that the current evidence base, while stronger than the last time Council reviewed this information and published in May 2016, is not sufficiently clear nor consistent enough to allow prescription for MND in professional sportspeople.
IIAC is aware that further studies are underway or are planned and are likely to provide additional information about the relationship between professional sport and motor neurone disease. Also, IIAC have commissioned reviews of cognitive impairment and Parkinson’s disease, which might provide additional relevant information. IIAC will revisit the topic when sufficient further information becomes available.
Published 9 October 2025 Get emails about this page Print this page
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