Men who played elite soccer were more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases — notably, dementia — as they aged, a study in Sweden showed.
March 17, 2023, 4:30 PMFIFA via Getty Images, FILEMen who played elite soccer were more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases -- notably, dementia -- as they aged, a study in Sweden showed.
"In contrast to outfield players, goalkeepers rarely head the ball," Ueda told MedPage Today. "Although other factors that differ by [soccer] player position could also affect this difference, the finding lends support to the hypothesis that heading the ball may increase the risk of dementia."FIFA via Getty Images, FILE
"The fact that this well-conducted study replicates prior research on [soccer] players in Scotland should convince skeptics that the connection between heading and dementia is real and preventable," said Chris Nowinski of the Concussion Legacy Foundation in Boston, who wasn't involved with the study.
Ueda's research team studied health records of 6,007 male soccer players who played in the Swedish top division Allsvenskan from 1924 through 2019, comparing them with 56,168 matched controls from the general Swedish population. The lower overall mortality could indicate that elite soccer players have better overall health and physical fitness than the general population, said study co-author Dr. Björn Pasternak, 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.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Men who play elite soccer more likely to develop dementia: StudyA new study published Friday found that elite soccer players are at a higher risk of developing dementia.
Read more »
NCAA Tournament: Hotels, restaurants brace for busy weekend in ColumbusMarch Madness is taking over Columbus with the NCAA basketball tournament! Here is everything you need to know.
Read more »
Sheetz drops prices on premium, mid-grade and ethanol-free gas to match regular unleadedThe prices are effective from Friday, March 17, 223, through Friday, March 24.
Read more »
Dementia study finds no higher risk for goalkeepersThe Swedish research adds to existing evidence on the link between heading the ball and brain injury.
Read more »
PolitiFact - Russian posters showing Biden direct people to U.S. Embassy, not ‘dementia care facilities’Purported Russian dementia care posters picturing President Joe Biden direct people to call the U.S. embassy, not a medical center.
Read more »