LONDON — Researchers are seeking to recruit 120 former professional footballers to help with a new study to investigate how to reduce the risk of dementia.
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The
BrainHOPE study will be led by consultant
neuropathologist Willie Stewart, whose previous research showed
ex-professionals were 3.5 times more likely to die from neurodegenerative
diseases than the general population.
The new project, jointly funded by the Football Association
and world governing body
FIFA, will use a range of tests to compare brain
health in former footballers between the ages of 40 and 59 with the general
population, and explore whether there are ways to reduce the risk.
"This is an incredibly important study, and we are
grateful to the FA and FIFA for their support to allow it to proceed,"
said Stewart, an honorary professor at the University of Glasgow.
"Our findings from the Field study show there is reason
to worry about lifelong brain health in former footballers. BrainHOPE is
designed to identify tests that might detect problems early on and, more
importantly, possible ways to try and reduce dementia risk for former
footballers."
Several members of the 1966 England World Cup-winning squad,
including Jack Charlton and Nobby Stiles, were suffering from dementia at the
time of their deaths.
In 2002, an inquest recorded a verdict of death by
industrial disease in the case of former West Brom striker Jeff Astle caused by
repeated heading of the ball.
Stewart carried out a new examination on Astle's brain in
2014 which concluded that the 59-year-old had died from chronic traumatic
encephalopathy (CTE).
English football chiefs last year introduced guidance saying
that footballers should engage in a maximum of 10 "higher force"
headers during training in any one week.
Charlotte Cowie, head of performance medicine at the FA,
said: "The launch of the BrainHope study is another important step in
building our understanding of the long-term health of former professional
footballers.
"Forming part of the wider Prevent Dementia study, this
research will help us further understand the links between the game and
neurodegenerative diseases and also potential early interventions which could
help reduce risk or speed of developing dementia."
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