Heading a football too often raises the risk of dementia

FOOTBALLERS who often make headers may be risking dementia.

A study of 14 retired players found four had a condition known to cause dementia and six had Alzheimer’s. Repeated blows to the head, from headers and colliding with other players, are thought to be the cause.

It comes 15 years after the inquest into the death of England striker Jeff Astle suggested he developed dementia as a direct result of heading heavy leather footballs.

A team from University College London studied 13 professional footballers and one amateur player, examining the brains of six after their deaths. They found four had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which can cause dementia and has also been found in boxers and rugby players.

Dr Helen Ling, the lead author at UCL’s Institute of Neurology, said: ‘Our findings of CTE in retired footballers suggest a potential link between playing football and

‘Evidence is accumulating’

the development of degenerative brain pathologies in later life. However, it is important to note we studied only a small number of retired footballers.’

Three of the nine surviving stars of England’s 1966 winning World Cup team live with Alzheimer’s.

Last month the family of one, Nobby Stiles, criticised the FA for failing to properly investigate a link between the sport and degenerative brain disease.

Researchers at UCL studied retired footballers referred to the old age psychiatry service in Swansea between 1980 and 2010.

Dr Elizabeth Coulthard, a dementia expert at Bristol University, said the study was robust, if small and was not firm proof.

The head of medicine at the FA, Dr Charlotte Cowie, said the issue was being taken seriously and the governing body had published official concussion guidelines.