A new study conducted by the University of Nottingham has found that retired professional footballers are almost three-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia than the general population. The research, commissioned by the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association, involved more than 460 footballers and revealed that 2.8% of them reported medically diagnosed dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases, compared to 0.9% of non-players. This finding supports a previous study in 2019 by experts at Glasgow University, which investigated the potential link between heading the ball and brain injuries. Following these results, a group of 30 former footballers and their families began legal proceedings against football’s governing bodies in November last year, claiming they failed to protect them from brain injuries.
The FA has taken steps to lower potential health risks and the chances of getting dementia, such as introducing world-leading concussion guidelines and trialling the removal of deliberate heading in matches for under-12 level and below. The new research also showed that retired footballers in the study were twice as likely to fall below established thresholds in some dementia testing than the general population. Dr Adam White, head of brain health at the PFA, commented that this study “ensure[s] that targeted and evidence-led action can be identified and taken to support and protect players at all stages of their career.” He also highlighted the importance of continued investment in this type of research.