UEA study finds footballers more likely to develop worse brain health at 65
It raises further questions about the long term impact of heading the ball
Last updated 9th Dec 2022
New research from the University of East Anglia has found footballers are more likely to have worse brain health compared with non-footballers.
Researchers compared active adults who didn't play the game to former elite players as they took part in a range of cognitive tests.
More than 75 former professional players have been involved in the study, including former Norwich City stars Iwan Roberts and Jeremy Goss, and Crystal Palace's Mark Bright.
Previous studies have suggested a link between heading the ball and cognitive issues in later life.
Lead researcher and sports concussion expert Dr Michael Grey, from UEA’s School of Health Sciences, said: “We know that heading the ball has been associated with an increased risk of dementia among professional football players.
“The problem has been emphasised with a number of high-profile former players coming forward with their diagnosis of dementia.
“During this year’s World Cup we have seen a few instances where the guidelines designed to protect players are not actually followed and this is really worrying.
“But until now, little has been known about when players start to show signs of brain health decline.
“We are using cutting-edge technology to test for early signs of cognitive dysfunction that are identifiable long before any memory problems or other noticeable symptoms become apparent.
“This is the first time that this type of research has been done, and these are the first results as we follow our participants’ brain health for the next few years.
“What we are seeing is that in the 40-50-year-old age group, the footballers are performing a bit better than the normal group.
“We know that regular exercise is really good for brain health, and our research confirms that professional footballers have improved brain health in their 40s compared with non-footballers.
“The physical exercise associated with professional football keeps their bodies and brains in tip-top shape, and this extends to their retirement.
“But when they get to 65 – that’s when things are starting to go wrong. The over 65s performed worse when assessed for things like reaction time, executive function, and spatial navigation. These are early warning signs for deteriorating brain health.
“This shows us that the exercise associated with playing football is good for the brain, but the negative effects of contact sport do begin to appear later in life."
Researchers are now trying to collect more data from former amateur and professional female players, who could be putting themselves at even greater risk of dementia than male players.