Heading footballs 'linked to brain damage in professional players'

Conclusion There is growing concern that repeated concussion in contact sports like American football and rugby increase the risk of CTE, which was first found in boxers. This study raises questions as to whether less severe but repeated head impacts, such as those sustained by heading a football, could lead to brain damage later in life. All six of the retired footballers who had a post-mortem showed features of CTE, but the study is not able to show that this was a result of heading footballs. As CTE can only be diagnosed at post-mortem, it has been difficult to study the progress of the condition with any degree of accuracy. We don't know how many people develop CTE, whether some people are more genetically susceptible, and what level and type of brain injury is required to cause the development of CTE over time. The relationship between CTE and development of dementia also remains unclear. The results of this study are interesting and will hopefully spark much needed larger cohort studies. In the meantime, it's important to remember exercise is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of dementia. Read more about the benefits of exercise. Links To The Headlines As evidence of dementia link to football emerges is it time to stop kids heading the ball? Daily Mirror, February 15 2017 Football headers 'linked to brain damage'. BBC News, February 15 2017 Footballers could be at risk of dementia from blows to the head, study suggests. The Guardian, February 15 2017 Head...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Older people Source Type: news