{"id":298217,"date":"2023-11-26T02:24:22","date_gmt":"2023-11-26T02:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=298217"},"modified":"2023-11-26T02:24:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-26T02:24:22","slug":"alix-popham-offers-hope-to-former-rugby-stars-suffering-with-dementia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/rugby-union\/alix-popham-offers-hope-to-former-rugby-stars-suffering-with-dementia\/","title":{"rendered":"Alix\u00a0Popham offers hope to former rugby stars suffering with dementia"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Ex-Wales star Alix\u00a0Popham offers hope to former rugby stars suffering with dementia by revealing the life-changing impact of experimental brain treatment in Mexico<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><span>Former rugby stars suffering from dementia have been offered future hope<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Ex-Wales star Alix Popham revealed the life-changing impact of brain treatment\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Popham estimated his brain had suffered up to 100,000 sub-concussions<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Former rugby stars suffering from early onset dementia and probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) have been given hope for the future.<\/p>\n<p>It comes after ex-Wales star Alix Popham revealed the life-changing impact experimental brain treatment in Mexico has had on him following his devastating diagnosis in April 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Popham was told he had early onset dementia after estimating his brain had suffered up to 100,000 sub-concussions over the course of his 13-year professional career.<\/p>\n<p>The 44-year-old is the first former professional sportsman to undergo this treatment in South America being conducted by pioneering American biotech firm Neurocytonix for incurable neurological disorders.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Things are a lot better. I don&#8217;t lose my train of thought anywhere near as much,&#8217; Popham said.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/25\/20\/78233687-12791045-image-a-27_1700945399939.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Alix Popham (second left) has revealed the positive impact of experimental brain treatment<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/25\/20\/78233677-12791045-image-a-29_1700945410401.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The Mexican treatment could give future hope to rugby stars diagnosed with dementia<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/25\/20\/78233683-12791045-image-a-28_1700945406267.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Popham said there was an improvement, which he noticed after three days of treatment<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I could feel positive signs after day three. I would suffer with headaches in the afternoons during my career and in retirement. Some afternoons I would have to lay in a dark room.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;It (the Mexico treatment) was a very positive step forward for me. There are so many ex-players who are struggling, suicidal and depressed and we have got to give them hope.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Popham first noticed something was wrong with his health when he couldn&#8217;t remember his way home from a bike ride.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>He was eventually diagnosed with early onset dementia and probable CTE and is one of 350 former rugby players suing the game&#8217;s governing body for damages.<\/p>\n<p>Many other ex-sports stars are in the same boat but Popham&#8217;s experiences give cause for positivity.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Although the treatment is awaiting regulatory approval in the UK and the science still needs to be proven through clinical trial, Popham has said his life is now in a much better place.<\/p>\n<p>The treatment in Mexico, which Popham first received in March 2021, is designed to stimulate brain regeneration to restore the structure of the nervous system. It is seen as a new approach in treating neurological diseases such as cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injuries.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;ve been four times in total \u2013 three times for treatment and one time just for scans to monitor my progress,&#8217; Popham said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;They are very pleased with the way I&#8217;m progressing and the other six players who have been for treatment are showing positive signs as well.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/25\/20\/78233661-12791045-image-a-36_1700945762869.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The ex-Wales star has made four trips since 2021, including one for scans to monitor progress<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/25\/20\/78233665-12791045-image-a-35_1700945756638.jpg\" height=\"478\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The treatment is designed to stimulate brain regeneration to restore the nervous system<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/11\/25\/20\/78233669-12791045-image-a-30_1700945415373.jpg\" height=\"476\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Popham and wife Mel will try to fund a UK clinical trial through the Head for Change charity<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;It is similar to an MRI machine. It&#8217;s silent unlike an MRI and it&#8217;s non-invasive. It&#8217;s quite relaxing when you are in the tunnel. They know as a company that the science needs to be proven.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;I&#8217;m patient zero \u2013 the first professional sportsman to have this treatment in the world.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p>Football pundit Chris Kamara has been treated at Neurocytonix in Mexico earlier this year after his speech disorder impacted on his commentary.<\/p>\n<p>Popham and his wife Mel will be doing all that they can to fund the clinical trial in the UK by fundraising through Head for Change \u2013 the charity they launched together after his diagnosis.<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugbyunion\/article-12791167\/Ex-Wales-star-Alix-Popham-offers-hope-former-rugby-stars-suffering-dementia-revealing-life-changing-impact-experimental-brain-treatment-Mexico.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ex-Wales star Alix\u00a0Popham offers hope to former rugby stars suffering with dementia by revealing the life-changing impact of experimental brain treatment in Mexico Former rugby stars suffering from dementia have been offered future hope Ex-Wales star Alix Popham revealed the life-changing impact of brain treatment\u00a0 Popham estimated his brain had suffered up to 100,000 sub-concussions&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - 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