Repetitive heading again linked to cognitive impairment, study suggests

By Sports Desk July 17, 2023

The possible link between repetitive heading and cognitive impairment in later life has again been highlighted in new data published on Monday.

The University of Nottingham’s FOCUS study, co-funded by the Football Association and the Professional Footballers’ Association, gathered information on heading frequency from 459 retired players aged 45 and over.

Players who recalled heading a ball 15 times or more per match or training session were found to be 3.53 times more likely to score below the test threshold in the cognitive status assessment than players who said they headed the ball up to five times, the FOCUS study found.

Players who recalled heading a ball six to 15 times were also 2.71 times more likely to score below the test threshold than the lowest-frequency heading group.

The study said its findings suggested “repetitive heading during a professional soccer career is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment in later life”.

It concluded further study was required to establish the upper threshold for heading frequency to mitigate this risk.

The FA has already taken steps to reduce the possible risk posed by repetitive exposure to heading by issuing guidance for players in children’s and adults’ game.

Adults at grassroots and professional level are now advised to perform a maximum of 10 ‘higher force’ headers per week in training.

As well as restrictions on heading in training for under-18s football, the FA is entering the second season of trialling the complete removal of heading in under-12s football.

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said on the FOCUS Study: “This study is another step in understanding any potential link between neurogenerative disorders and former professional footballers.

“Since funding the FIELD study, we have continued to invest in research to gain a greater understanding of the area and potential risk factors.

“More research is required to fully understand the issues and we welcome a global approach to do that.

“Whilst there is no doubt of the overall benefit to health of playing football, by addressing potential risk factors whilst we continue to invest in medical research, we will ensure that millions can continue to enjoy our national sport.”

The FIELD study found in 2019 that footballers were three and a half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease compared to age-matched members of the general population.

The first part of the FOCUS study, published in June, found 2.8 per cent of retired professional footballers in its study reported medically diagnosed dementia and other neurodegenerative disease compared to 0.9 per cent of controls.

This meant former professionals were found to be 3.46 times more likely to have neurodegenerative diseases compared to the control group.

The study also showed retired footballers in the study were twice as likely to fall below established thresholds in some dementia testing than the general population.

Related items

  • Wales promotion 'hasn't sunk in' for Bellamy after 4-1 Iceland win Wales promotion 'hasn't sunk in' for Bellamy after 4-1 Iceland win

    Wales secured promotion to League A after beating Iceland 4-1 at home in their final Nations League group match, having gone a goal down early on.

    Their victory, alongside a 3-1 defeat for Turkiye away to Montenegro, means that Craig Bellamy's side topped their group by a point.

    "The feeling hasn't quite sunk in yet, but it's been a real positive camp Whatever the result of this game, it's just been a positive camp," said Bellamy after the match.

    "The targets we set right from the start, I feel we've been able to achieve."

    Wales started the day knowing they needed to win and for results to go their way to top the group, but went a goal down after seven minutes after Andri Gudjohnsen followed up from a Danny Ward save.

    It was the first goal Wales had conceded at home in 321 minutes and the first time they had been behind under Bellamy, but they responded well. The hosts managed to control the rest of the half, with Lewis Cullen scoring twice in the final 15 minutes of the first period.

    The determination of his team to stick to the plan was something that pleased Bellamy immensely.

    "There were one or two tests today that I feel we've been able to progress [through]. If they had happened one or two games ago, we might not have been able to.

    "Where we're at, you go 1-0 down in the first few minutes and you get a performance like that.

    "Then after that, when the crowd get a little bit edgy and try to force things for us... No, no. We keep the ball because we believe that's going to benefit us, and the players were able to do that."

    In the second half, Wales were able to dominate and bagged goals from Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson to make things more comfortable.

    "I thought we took control of the tempo of the game and we're a good team if we're able to do that," said Bellamy.

    On promotion itself, the Wales manager could not overstate the importance of being able to mix with the biggest teams in international football in Europe.

    "For where we want to be and where we want to go, it's huge. It's so important for us," he said.

  • Serie A side Genoa confirm sacking of head coach Gilardino Serie A side Genoa confirm sacking of head coach Gilardino

    Serie A side Genoa have confirmed the departure of their head coach Alberto Gilardino, with Patrick Vieira reportedly on his way in.

    Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, leaves the club with them sitting just one point above the relegation size with 10 points from 12 matches this season. 

    A former striker who played for clubs including Genoa, Parma, AC Milan and Fiorentina, Gilardino took charge of Genoa in 2022 and helped them earn promotion to the top division before a 11th-place finish during the 2023-24 season. 

    "The club thanks Gilardino for the goals achieved together over the years and wishes him the best for his career," Genoa said in a statement.

    The 42-year-old saw his side salvage a late 1-1 draw against Cesc Fabregas' Como in their last match before the international break. 

    Genoa were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the second round following a defeat to Sampdoria on penalties in September. 

    Arsenal legend Vieira is set to replace him, according to multiple reports. 

    The former France midfielder has been out of work since leaving Strasbourg by mutual consent in July. 

  • Doncic backs Mbappe to turn fortunes around at Real Madrid Doncic backs Mbappe to turn fortunes around at Real Madrid

    NBA superstar Luka Doncic has backed Kylian Mbappe to "figure it out" after his underwhelming start to life at Real Madrid.

    Mbappe has scored eight goals in 16 games for Madrid in all competitions since joining as a free agent following the expiration of his Paris Saint-Germain contract.

    He has gone four matches without a goal – a run that includes losses to Barcelona and Milan – and has been left out of France's latest squad.

    However, Dallas Mavericks guard Doncic – a Real Madrid supporter due to his previous ties with the sports club – can see Mbappe turning things around.

    "Obviously [their season] could be better," Doncic told Managing Madrid after the Mavericks' win over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. 

    "But when you get a guy like Mbappe, it takes some time to get used to it. We'll figure it out."

    Mbappe has scored six goals in 11 LaLiga appearances for Madrid but has underperformed his season's expected goals (xG) total by 2.04.

    The forward is averaging a goal every 166 minutes in all competitions this term, compared to one every 88 minutes for PSG in his last of seven seasons in Paris.

    Madrid thrashed Osasuna 4-0 last time out in the league to return to winning ways but still trail leaders Barcelona by six points.

    Asked about his connections with Madrid, former Los Blancos basketball player Doncic said: "I follow Real Madrid every time.

    "I grew up there. They taught me everything, so it's a part of my life. You can call it a secondary home. 

    "I learned a lot of stuff there and, especially, they gave me a way to be here right now [in Dallas]. I always appreciate that 100%."

    Madrid return to action after the international break with a trip to Leganes on Sunday.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.