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Post by rugbytoffee on Oct 21, 2019 13:03:42 GMT
FA chairman Greg Clarke: "The global football family now unites to find the answers and provide a greater understanding of this complex issue"
Former footballers are approximately three and a half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative disease than the general population, according to a new study.
The new report, commissioned by the Football Association and the Professional Footballers' Association, assessed the medical records of 7,676 men who played professional football in Scotland between 1900 and 1976.
Their records were matched against more than 23,000 individuals from the general population, with the study led by consultant neuropathologist Dr Willie Stewart of Glasgow University.
His findings report that the "risk ranged from a five-fold increase in Alzheimer's disease, through an approximately four-fold increase in motor neurone disease, to a two-fold Parkinson's disease in former professional footballers compared to population controls".
Although footballers had higher risk of death from neurodegenerative disease, they were less likely to die of other common diseases, such as heart disease and some cancers, including lung cancer.
The study - titled 'Football's Influence on Lifelong Health and Dementia Risk' or FIELD for short - found that deaths in ex-footballers were lower than expected up to age 70, and higher than expected over that age.
Dr Stewart said in a statement: "An important aspect of this work has been the ability to look across a range of health outcomes in former professional footballers.
"This allows us to build a more complete picture of health in this population."
"Our data show that while former footballers had higher dementia rates, they had lower rates of death due to other major diseases.
"As such, whilst every effort must be made to identify the factors contributing to the increased risk of neurodegenerative disease to allow this risk to be reduced, there are also wider potential health benefits of playing football to be considered."
FA chairman Greg Clarke said: "The whole game must recognise that this is only the start of our understanding and there are many questions that still need to be answered.
"It is important that the global football family now unites to find the answers and provide a greater understanding of this complex issue. The FA is committed to doing all it can to make that happen."
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said it was "incumbent on football globally to come together to address this issue in a comprehensive and united manner".
He added: "Research must continue to answer more specific questions about what needs to be done to identify and reduce risk factors."
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Post by rugbytoffee on May 3, 2022 12:49:18 GMT
Cardiff City's Keith Pontin died of dementia caused by head traumaA former Wales footballer died of dementia caused by repeated trauma to the head, an inquest has heard. Keith Pontin, 64, from Pontyclun in Rhondda Cynon Taf, played for Cardiff City between 1976 and 1983 and won two caps for Wales. He died on 2 August 2020, five years after being diagnosed with dementia. Pontypridd Coroners' Court heard a post mortem examination found Mr Pontin's cause of death was Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a progressive brain condition believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion, which eventually leads to dementia. The inquest heard Mr Pontin died of dementia caused by CTE. Former Swansea City player Paul Burrows, who played with Mr Pontin at Barry Town, told the inquest his friend was "an old fashioned centre half" who was "very dominant in the air." He said he was a "big, strong, tough defender" and that "people looked up to Keith for those attributes." He said that football was a more physical game in the 1980s and players would often continue playing with injuries. "It wasn't uncommon for players to clash heads," he said. "I think players were allowed to be more physical and challenge balls in the air." The inquest also heard from Cardiff City's Club Secretary Michelle McDonald, who said the club did not have any records relating to Mr Pontin's time with the Bluebirds. "We only keep records going back seven or eight years," she said. David Cole, who appeared on behalf of Barry Town United AFC, told the hearing Mr Pontin's playing style was "combative" but that he was a "gentle giant off the field". He said the attitude in Mr Pontin's playing days was that you "got on with it" if you were hurt. Mr Cole said the current club, founded in 2013, holds no records kept by the former club Barry Town AFC. The inquest continues.
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Post by evertontillidie on May 3, 2022 13:49:30 GMT
I'm sure blows to the head don't do us any good but I'm also very sceptical that playing football and headers cause dementia, otherwise they'd all be getting it wouldn't they?
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