The questions raised by major research into dementia link

Q Does heading cause dementia?

A The study looked only at the incidence of dementia among former professional footballers compared to a matched group in the population. It could not identify what had caused the increased prevalence of serious brain disease, although researchers at Glasgow have established a link between head trauma and a range of neurological diseases, including dementia. The main head impacts in football occur through collisions and headers.

Q Was it a problem from a different era?

A Not necessarily, although the research focused on former professionals who were born no later than 1976. There is a hope that changes in training methods and footballs will have reduced the risk but there is no evidence to support this and, while lighter, modern balls travel faster.

Q Will football change now?

A Concussion substitutes, so that medics have more time to assess a head injury, are increasingly likely but the Football Association has resisted calling for other changes. Some medics, however, now want heading outlawed in children’s football as a precautionary measure and are fearful of football trapping itself in a lengthy research cycle.

Q What research is needed now?

A Charlotte Cowie, the FA’S head of performance medicine, hopes that further studies can pinpoint the specific causes of dementia in football. There are also wider ongoing studies funded by the Londonbased Drake Foundation. A new 10-year project will track the mental, musculoskeletal, neurocognitive and cardiovascular health of players at the end of their careers.