Katharina Buczek
“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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