Regular exercise reduces the risk of disease and promotes healthy aging. However, in the case of football, although it can contribute to improving respiratory and cardiovascular function in amateur athletes, in elite footballers it could have long-term negative consequences in the form of a greater risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, more and more retired footballers develop one of these diseases decades or years after leaving professional football. For example, five of the eleven players on the England team that won the World Cup in 1966 developed dementia. The unusually high incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in elite soccer players such as Miguel Ángel Unzúe, Borgonovo or Lombardi is also known. Without a doubt, a worrying link whose origin in these athletes has been an enigma.
Now, a group of Spanish neurologists has carried out an analysis on the head impacts suffered by professional players in the Soccer World Cups over the last 50 years, and has observed a considerable increase in the frequency of these blows, which attributed to a more aggressive, competitive style of play based on greater physical power.
The results of the study have been published in the journal The Lancet Neurology and suggest that this phenomenon could lead to an increase in cases of dementia, Parkinson’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) among footballers in the coming years. The research was carried out by a team from the University of Barcelona and the Clinical Neurophysiology group of the August Pi i Sunyer Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBAPS).
Increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases and REM sleep disorders
The researchers examined in detail 120 videos of matches corresponding to four soccer World Cups held in the last 50 years: the 1974 World Cup in Germany, the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The results revealed an increase significant in the number of blows to the head, registering 4,478 blows in the 1974 and 1990 tournaments, compared to 5,355 blows in those of 2006 and 2022.
The analysis shows an increase in both collisions between players (including elbows to the head) and repeated headers on the ball. In 33% of the recorded collisions, medical attention was necessary, and on five occasions the players were forced to leave the field, all of which occurred between 2006 and 2022. This evolution is due to the fact that the style of play in football has changed over the last 50 years, becoming more physical, aggressive and competitive.
Previous epidemiological studies had already shown a higher incidence of neurodegenerative diseases among professional footballers, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS and REM sleep disorders. These neurological problems are believed to be related to the constant exposure to head impacts that players suffer throughout their sporting careers.
Medical attention was required in 33% of recorded collisions, and on five occasions players were forced to leave the football field.
Previous research focused on footballers who played professionally between the 1950s and 1970s, who developed neurodegenerative diseases years after retiring. Therefore, the increase in the number of blows to the head detected in this new study suggests that in the coming years the incidence of these diseases among elite footballers could rise.
With the aim of delving deeper into this line of research, the team has recently received two grants to monitor veteran football and rugby players, in order to evaluate the appearance of markers of neurodegenerative diseases in a latent state.
How to prevent injuries and their consequences
It is estimated that a professional soccer player receives around 2,000 headbutts over a 20-year career. Additionally, after 10 years in the profession, there is a 50% chance that you will suffer a concussion from a headbutt.
To mitigate these risks, preventive measures have been proposed such as the implementation of educational programs, updating gaming regulations and the use of protective equipment.
