Source: REUTERS/Lee Smith
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, medical experts have found that individuals who have played football are three and a half times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases compared to the general population. This research was led by Professor Willie Stewart from the University of Glasgow. Previously, it was believed that frequent heading of the ball and head impacts during play were the main risks for players developing such diseases later on, but it was unclear whether other risk factors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, or blood pressure played a role. Researchers analyzed data from 11,984 former professional football players and 35,952 members of the general public, revealing that the risk of former players developing such diseases due to alcohol, smoking, diabetes, or blood pressure was similar to, or even lower than, that of the general population (with the conclusion that frequent heading and head impacts should be the primary reasons for the higher incidence among former players). In the UK, relatives of players including Nobby Stiles, a member of the 1966 England World Cup-winning team who passed away in 2020 from such a disease, are taking legal action against football authorities, claiming that frequent heading leads to brain injuries.