Study into impact of footballers heading the ball

A MAJOR study got under way in Glasgow this year to try to establish former footballers are more likely to suffer from dementia later in life than the general public, due to repeatedly heading the ball.

The study is being led by Dr William Stewart and colleagues at the University of Glasgow and the Hampden Sports Clinic.

Dementia has affected a number if of former stars of the game, including Celtic legend Billy McNeil, Dundee United legend Frank Kopel, former Scotland manager

Ally MacLeod, above, and Jimmy Calderwood, who managed clubs including Dunfermline, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Ross County.

Ex-Dundee United star Kopel was 59 when he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia and died aged 65 in 2014.

Former England and West Brom star Jeff Astle died in 2002 with what the coroner described as an “industrial injury”.

In February, last year, the results of a study of deceased players’ brains provided the first scientific evidence of a link between heading a football and a devastating form of early-onset dementia.

The investigation identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in players whose families agreed to allow their brains to be examined after death.

However, the charity Alzheimer’s Scotland has said more research is needed.