Dementia Risk in Former Pro Soccer Players Not Tied to Modifiable Health, Lifestyle Factors
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2024 -- There is no evidence that high dementia risk among former professional soccer players is associated with potentially modifiable general health and lifestyle dementia risk factors, according to a study published online Dec. 9 in JAMA Network Open.
Emma R. Russell, Ph.D., from the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, and colleagues explored the association of potentially modifiable dementia risk factors with dementia risk among former professional soccer players. The analysis included electronic health record linkage to national electronic datasets of general and mental health hospital inpatient and day-case admissions, prescribing information, and death certification in Scotland for 11,984 male former professional soccer players (born between 1900 and 1990) and 35,952 matched controls from the general population.
The researchers found that during a median 21 years of follow-up (≥30 years at study entry), 3.62 percent of former soccer players and 1.26 percent of matched controls had a dementia diagnosis (hazard ratio, 3.02). Compared with controls, rates of general health and lifestyle dementia risk factors were similar or lower among former soccer players (e.g., diabetes, 4.26 versus 6.35 percent). Similarly, dementia risk associated with these factors among soccer players was similar to or lower than among controls (e.g., hypertension, hazard ratios, 4.62 versus 6.96).
"This study provides further support for measures to reduce repetitive head impact and traumatic brain injury exposure in contact sport to address dementia risk," the authors write.
One author disclosed receiving grants from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association outside the submitted work.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Helping Others Linked to Higher Level of Cognitive Function
THURSDAY, Aug. 21, 2025 -- Helping others, both via formal volunteering and informal helping, is associated with higher levels of cognitive function and slower cognitive decline...
Adults With Hearing Loss Using Hearing Aids Have Reduced Dementia Risk
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20, 2025 -- Adults with hearing loss (HL) with hearing aids have a reduced risk for dementia, according to a research letter published online Aug. 18 in JAMA...
Cognitive Impairment, Work Productivity Loss Linked in Bipolar Disorder
MONDAY, Aug. 18, 2025 -- There is a weak correlation between change in cognitive impairment and change in work productivity loss in adults with bipolar disorder, according to a...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.