The Student Room Group

Ex football players more likely to be diagnosed with dementia

Ex football players are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia according to studies.
I know one of the daughters of Ex west Brom player Jeff Astle does a lot of campaigning. He died of dementia, which was apparently caused (at least in part) by heading the football.
What are your thoughts?

Dementia in football: Ex-players over three times more likely to be diagnosed, study finds - BBC Sport
I havent closely looked at the studies. But it is sad that this appears to be the case. But with regards to heading the ball, ex footballers didnt have to head the ball. That was their own choice. Apparently the balls are lighter than they used to be.
I know that Dawn, the daughter of Jess Astle still does a lot of campaigning.

Reply 2

Lots of ex players are coming out to alert people regarding heading the ball due to it causing dementia... Dennis law, Bobby Charlton, Gordon McQueen are just a few who highlighted it over the past few years and sadly took there lives.

Reason why the SFA ( Scottish Football Association) have took action over the past few years banning youngsters to heading the ball and also trying to get football players to limit the amount of time they head the ball in the current game.

Rugby players with MND and also can affect footballers to.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Emma:-)
But with regards to heading the ball, ex footballers didnt have to head the ball. That was their own choice.

Erm. Whilst this wasn't necessarily any organisation's fault (unlike something like the NFL case on head injuries, where given the nature of the sport and some of the evidence the NFL really should have known the impact of head injuries sooner), I don't think it's fair to say that they didn't have to head the ball. In practice, if they wanted to be professional footballers, they did have to head the ball at some point. I don't think you can blame them either. What's important is that we look at the evidence now and act accordingly. There are already steps being taken to limit the damage that this can do in future, including preventing young children from heading the ball.

Reply 4

Repeated heading over years definetely seems like it took a toll

Reply 5

Original post by Adam_jar
Repeated heading over years definetely seems like it took a toll

definitely took a toll on Bruno fernandes
Original post by Tracey_W
Lots of ex players are coming out to alert people regarding heading the ball due to it causing dementia... Dennis law, Bobby Charlton, Gordon McQueen are just a few who highlighted it over the past few years and sadly took there lives.
Reason why the SFA ( Scottish Football Association) have took action over the past few years banning youngsters to heading the ball and also trying to get football players to limit the amount of time they head the ball in the current game.
Rugby players with MND and also can affect footballers to.

Yeah, there are deffo a few coming out of the woodwork.
Like i say, Jeff Astle was one of them. Well his daughter actually (she does a lot of campaigning, obviously Jeff died a while back).
I know one of his daughters (she lives very close to my grandad, and they know each other).

Reply 7

I'm really not surprised honestly! Weren't they thinking of banning it for under a certain age?

Quick Reply