Researchers look to recruit 120 ex-footballers for study into dementia risk

Researchers will recruit 120 middle-aged, former professional footballers as part of a study investigating possible ways to reduce dementia risk among such ex-players.

The £1.3 million BrainHope project will build on the discoveries of the Field study in 2019 which found that professional footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die of neurodegenerative disease than age-matched members of the general population.

The four-year study will use brain imaging and a range of tests to compare brain health in mid-life former footballers to general population control subjects already recruited to the Prevent Dementia study.

Footballers five times more likely to get dementia than the rest of the public

The link between heading a football and dementia is nothing new, but it is a connection that is becoming more and more common.

Some of the world's most famous names in football have had their middle to later years impacted by dementia.

Several of England's 1966 World Cup winning team have been diagnosed with the condition including, Sir Bobby Charlton, Jack Charlton, Nobby Stiles, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson.  

The relatives of England's 1966 World Cup winning heroes have both experienced the toll dementia can take on loved ones, and are convinced it can be caused by playing football.

• Tom Charlton tells ITV News of the pain he felt watching his brother Jack deteriorate

Sir Bobby Charlton's Manchester United team mate, Denis Law, was diagnosed with mixed dementia and Alzheimer's last year and has since taken strides to raise awareness.

Studies have suggested that footballers are up to five times more likely to develop dementia than the general public, with the risk being even higher for players in defensive positions.

Researchers will also explore whether any differences in brain health among footballers might benefit from management of known dementia risk factors designed to try and reduce their risk.

The study will be led by the University of Glasgow, in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London and the wider PREVENT Dementia research collaborators.

Study 'important' to understanding link between football and dementia

Professor Willie Stewart, BrainHope lead, consultant neuropathologist and honorary Professor at the University of Glasgow, said: “This is an incredibly important study, and we are grateful to the Football Association (FA) and FIFA for their support to allow it to proceed.

“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.”

The BrainHope study will recruit 120 former professional footballers aged 40-59 years to compare against members of the general population as controls.

The effectiveness of Brain Health Clinic management will then be explored within the footballer subjects, with the brain scans and tests repeated again after two years.

Charlotte Cowie, head of performance medicine at the Football Association, 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.”

Former professional football players interested in participating in the research are asked to contact https://preventdementia.co.uk/prevent-sports/.