Frequently heading footballs linked to dementia

Research from University College London and Cardiff University has found that repeatedly heading balls during football games can lead to long-term brain damage.

The study was conducted after previous reports have suggested that players who head heavy balls may be more prone to developing dementia later in life.

It examined the brains of five people who had been professional footballers and one who had been a committed amateur, for an average of 26 years. All six went on to develop dementia in their 60s. During post mortem of the brains, the scientists founds sings of chronic truamatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of brain injury.

CTE is seen in a number of contact sports and has been linked to memory loss depression and dementia. However, the research also showed the brains had alzheimer’s disease, which can ultimately lead to dementia.

Thus the research has concluded it could be a combination of factors that contributed to the footballers developing dementia.

In an interview with the BBC, Prof Huw Morris, of University College London, explained: "When we examined their brains at autopsy we saw the sorts of changes that are seen in ex-boxers, the changes that are often associated with repeated brain injury which are known as CTE.

"So really for the first time in a series of players we have shown that there is evidence that head injury has occurred earlier in their life which presumably has some impact on them developing dementia."

Dr David Reynolds, at the charity Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "The causes of dementia are complex and it is likely that the condition is caused by a combination of age, lifestyle and genetic factors.

"Further research is needed to shed light on how lifestyle factors such as playing sport may alter dementia risk, and how this sits in the context of the well-established benefits of being physically active."

Dr Charlotte Cowie, from the Football Association, added: "The FA is determined to support this research and is also committed to ensuring that any research process is independent, robust and thorough, so that when the results emerge, everyone in the game can be confident in its findings."