New Study Reveals Dementia Risk in Former Footballers No Linked tae Lifestyle Factors

In a grundbrakin study led by consultant neuropathologist Professor Willie Stewart frae da University o Glesga, researchers hae uncovered dat lifestyle factors commonly associated wi dementia dinna contribute tae da heichtened risk observed in former professional footballers. Da findins, published in JAMA Netwark Open, challenge previous assumptions aboot da connection atween health habits an neurodegenerative diseases in sports.

Da investigation drew data frae da electronic health records o nearly 12,000 former football players an a comparable group o ower 35,000 controls frae da Scottish population. Key risk factors for dementia, sic as smokin, depression, diabetes, an obesity, wur analysed. Surprisinly, da results indicated dat dese factors wur either similar or even laaer amang da former players whan compared tae da control group.

Dis research expands on earlier studies, notably da 2019 report demonstratin dat ex-footballers are 3.5 times mair likely tae dee frae neurodegenerative diseases. Follaein dis, a 2021 study heilichted a direct link atween da duration o professional careers an increased dementia risk, wi langer careers correlatin wi a fivefold increase in da likelihood o neurodegenerative conditions.

Professor Stewart emphasised da importance o dese findins, statin, “Oor latest results suggest da relationship atween heicher rates o neurodegenerative disease amang former professional footballers is nae driven by dose wider general health an lifestyle factors.” He advocates dat while addressin lifestyle risks is important, da priority shuid centre on minimisin exposure tae repetitive heid impacts an traumatic brain injuries durin sportin activities.

Da implications o dis study are significant, caain for enhanced strategies tae manage heid injuries an mitigate dementia risks in contact sports. Wi fundin frae organisations sic as da Football Association, da Professional Footballers Association, an national health entities, dis research heilichts da urgent need for ongaan evaluation an prevention strategies in sports tae protect athletes’ lang-term health.