Posted on Mar 18, 2023
Dementia risk higher for elite soccer players, study finds
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"Men who played elite soccer were more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases -- notably, dementia -- as they aged, a study in Sweden showed."
Dementia risk higher for elite soccer players, study finds
Posted from abcnews.go.com
Soccer
Health
Posted 1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The risk of motor neuron disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was similar among players and non-players. Parkinson's disease was less common among soccer players (HR 0.68, 95% 0.52-0.89) than the general population, and death from any cause was slightly lower.
The lower overall mortality could indicate that elite soccer players have better overall health and physical fitness than the general population, observed study co-author Björn Pasternak, MD, PhD, also of the Karolinska Institute.
"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," Pasternak said. "Good physical fitness may also be the reason behind the lower risk of Parkinson's disease."
The research shows an association between dementia and elite soccer, not cause-and-effect, Ueda emphasized.
"Even if we would have perfect data on causality, what to do with it is a matter of values and a decision for the broader community and individual players to make," he said. "Our study provides data that could support such decision-making."
"I think it is important to emphasize that these findings are based on elite players who were active mostly during the mid-20th century," Ueda added. "Their applicability to contemporary elite players and to amateur and youth players is uncertain."
..."The risk of motor neuron disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), was similar among players and non-players. Parkinson's disease was less common among soccer players (HR 0.68, 95% 0.52-0.89) than the general population, and death from any cause was slightly lower.
The lower overall mortality could indicate that elite soccer players have better overall health and physical fitness than the general population, observed study co-author Björn Pasternak, MD, PhD, also of the Karolinska Institute.
"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," Pasternak said. "Good physical fitness may also be the reason behind the lower risk of Parkinson's disease."
The research shows an association between dementia and elite soccer, not cause-and-effect, Ueda emphasized.
"Even if we would have perfect data on causality, what to do with it is a matter of values and a decision for the broader community and individual players to make," he said. "Our study provides data that could support such decision-making."
"I think it is important to emphasize that these findings are based on elite players who were active mostly during the mid-20th century," Ueda added. "Their applicability to contemporary elite players and to amateur and youth players is uncertain."
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The recent study findings regarding the higher risk of dementia among elite soccer players are deeply concerning. This research sheds light on the potential long-term consequences of participating in high-impact sports. It is crucial that we prioritize the health and well-being of athletes, taking proactive measures to minimize the risks associated with their chosen profession. For more information on this study and its implications, I highly recommend reading the insightful article from https://americangambling.co/online-casinos/pa/bonus/: Dementia risk higher for elite soccer players, study finds. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the study's findings and raises important discussions about player safety and the future of professional sports.
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