New Study Reveals Elite Soccer Players Are At An Increased Risk Of Developing Dementia
According to a new observational study published in The Lancet Public Health, elite male soccer players were one and a half times more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases than the general population.
Approximately 9% of male soccer players in the Swedish top division were diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease– which accounts for 537 players out of 6,007.
This is higher than population controls, which see a 6% diagnosis rate– or approximately 3,485 people out of 56,168.
The research was conducted in the wake of mounting concern regarding head trauma exposure in the sport. The reality of soccer head trauma has also worried scientists and community members alike about whether the impacts could increase the risk of neurodegenerative disease late on in life.
A past study conducted in Scotland even suggested that soccer players were three and a half times more likely to experience neurodegenerative disease. And following this conclusion, some soccer associations began implementing measures to limit heading among younger age groups and in training settings.
“While the risk increase in our study is slightly smaller than in the previous study from Scotland, it confirms that elite soccer players have a greater risk of neurodegenerative disease later in life,” explained Peter Ueda, an assistant professor at the Karolinska Institutet.
“As there are growing calls from within the sport for greater measures to protect brain health, our study adds to the limited evidence base and can be used to guide decisions on how to manage these risks.”
The research used Sweden’s national health registers to search for neurodegenerative disease records among 6,007 male soccer players who competed between 1924 and 2019 in the Swedish top division.
The study compared each player’s risk of disease against population controls. The controls were matched with soccer plays according to age, gender, and region of residence.
steevy84 – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only
The analysis ultimately uncovered the risk for various neurodegenerative conditions– such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neuron disease. It also looked at the risks among outfield players versus goalkeepers.
In general, soccer players were found to have a 1.5 times greater risk of neurodegenerative disease– ranking at 9% as compared to the 6% of control populations.
However, the authors did note that most study participants– both soccer players and control– were still alive by the end of their data collection. So, they suggested that the lifetime risk of developing neurodegenerative disease among both groups is likely higher.
They also revealed that goalkeepers did not have a significantly higher risk of disease compared to controls. Instead, it was outfield players who had a one and half times greater risk of neurodegenerative disease.
“Importantly, our findings suggest that goalkeepers don’t have the same increased risk of neurodegenerative disease as outfield players. Goalkeepers rarely head the ball, unlike outfield players, but are exposed to similar environments and lifestyles during their careers and perhaps also after retirement,” Ueda said.
“It has been hypothesized that repetitive mild head trauma sustained through heading the ball is the reason soccer players are at increased risk, and it could be that the difference in neurodegenerative disease risk between these two types of players supports this theory.”
In general, about 8% of soccer players were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; meanwhile, the control populations saw a lower 5% diagnosis rate.
But, there was no significant diagnosis difference for motor neuron disease, which also includes ALS.
Additionally, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was actually lower among soccer players at 40%– compared to the control at 42%.
Finally, the researchers observed lower overall mortality rates among soccer players– which may suggest that their general health is better than people in the general population.
“Likely because of maintaining good physical fitness from frequently playing [soccer],” detailed Bjorn Pasternak, a senior researcher at the Karolinska Institutet.
“Physical activity is associated with a lower risk of dementia, so it could be hypothesized that the potential risks from head impacts are being somewhat offset by having good physical fitness.”
Robust physical fitness may also be the reason why Parkinson’s disease risk is lowered among soccer players, Pasternak suggested.
Still, the authors noted that there are some limitations to their study. Most notably, since neurodegenerative disease typically occurs later in life, most of the players who participated in the study and who were old enough to develop one of the conditions played soccer during the mid-20th century.
The sport has changed substantially since then, and these differences may impact the modern risk of neurodegenerative disease. For instance, soccer players have switched from using leather balls to synthetic balls.
They are also exposed to more rigorous training, have access to better equipment, and engage in a play style that is associated with few head trauma incidents.
At the same time, though, the researchers note that the risk of neurodegenerative disease may also be higher among elite soccer players today– since they train and play much more intensely beginning from a younger age.
To read the study’s complete findings, visit the link here.
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