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Repeated headers during a footballer's professional career may be linked to long-term brain damage, according to "tentative evidence" from UK scientists.
The research follows reports that players who head balls may be more prone to developing dementia later in life. It is as yet a small scale study but evidence is showing alarming results
Dawn Astle, the daughter of Jeff Astle who played for England and West Brom and died age 59, stated her father was diagnosed with early onset dementia at 55. Apparently 4 years later before his death, he no longer knew he had ever played football.
The Football Association says it will look into this very closely.
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@Cleoriff wrote:Got it. Concussion starring Will Smith.
That's the right film @Cleoriff, but it didn't have anything to do with whether players should be wearing helmets or not. They've worn helmets in the sport for decades, but players have suffered brain injuries even with them. They're always looking to improve player safety, but it's part of the sport, and players are much more aware of the risks. There's big money involved as well, so that has a great influence. Many injuries happen at a level much lower than the professional level, and that's probably where they will be looking to change the game.
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It has long been rumoured that heading the ball would be outlawed in the game but it's nothing as bad now as it used to be trying to head a leather ball.
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Can you imagine football without headers and some of the glorious headed goals we've seen? These people need to get a grip and stop scaring people. There is always something being reported as bad for us, cancer scares etc only for them to change their mind and the advice. Warn of the dangers yes, but this has been known for decades yet every so often people are trying to justify their research grants by rehashing warnings. Still, job done and the subject will be hot news for a week. Wait for the other old issue to come up whereby footballers are risking their ability to walk due to the cortisone injections to get them playing through the pain.
Look after the kids by all means but leave mature adults alone who can make up their own minds whether they want to risk the Alzheimers and early dementia whilst gathering in up to £300.000 a week.
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It's not the kids...or the recreational footballers though Jonsie. It's considered a risk to professionals.
Having said all that we are getting too health and safety conscious nowadays. F1 drivers get in those cars every race and risk their lives every time they put their foot down...Mind you, they, like a lot of other sports, do wear protective headgear...
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But I'll say it again, this has been known for literally decades so what has this new study proved?
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No this actual study is recent. Yes we have known for years that footballers are at risk of long lasting brain damage but this one researched the effects into the brain damage being the causal factor of EARLY onset Alzheimers disease
Basically scientists examined the brains of professional footballers (not named) who died early.... all suffering with early onset dementia. That's the new research link. When Jeff Astle's daughter first spoke out about it. ..her theory was dismissed. Now they are proving it
