An important new large study (Russell, JAMA, 2024) has found that footballers are 3 times more likely to develop dementia than non-footballers. In other words, it is highly likely that repeated heading the ball causes long-term brain injury (and dementia).
11,984 male former professional soccer players and 35,952 matched controls were compared; over a median 21 years of follow-up from study entry at age 30 years or older.
434 former soccer players (3.62%) and 453 matched population controls (1.26%) were identified with dementia.
And, the big AND. The rate of other dementia risk factors (e.g. smoking, alcohol, high blood pressure, diabetes etc) was similar or lower among former soccer players compared with matched controls (e.g. diabetes: 4.26% vs 6.35%).
In other words, the playing of football (with regular heading of the ball) is likely to be the cause of the increased dementia risk. More about the study here.
None of this is surprising as there are clear relationships between recurrent sport-related head injury and dementia in other sports where is head contact, e.g. boxing and rugby union/league.
MyHSN’s view
Football is a very conservative sport that resists significant rule changes. But it is time for football (led by the FA) to grow up, and change its rules and training methods.
Removing heading from the game is not realistic (yet). But other sports are changing rules to make them safer, e.g. rugby union has lowered the maximum tackle height and introduced harsh penalties for head contact.
Here are some ideas.
- Football in the UK should also consider rule changes – e.g. no headers in the penalty area (where most major head contact occurs to attackers and defenders)
- If a player deliberately heads the ball (or hits another players head as they try to head it) in the penalty area, they are red carded, and leave the game. If it is not clear who headed who, both are red carded.
- If the numbers of concussions (that should be monitored in the professional leagues) does not fall, all headers in all areas of the pitch could be banned.
- In training, no more than 2 headers per session will be allowed, and none in penalty box (see above). If a third occurs, they do no further training that day.
- It would be hoped that other countries (via FIFA) will eventually follow us.
- Parents and schools should encourage a wider range of sports, not just football.
A ‘new football with no headers’ will emerge and may be a better (more skilful) game – with more passing and more shots on goal.
[“After all its called ‘football’ ” MyHSN Ed]
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