TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2024 (HealthDay News) — A study published online Dec. 9 in Open JAMA Network.
Emma R. Russell, Ph.D., of the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, and colleagues explored the association of potentially modifiable dementia risk factors with dementia risk in former professional soccer players. The analysis included linking electronic health records with national electronic datasets of inpatient and day admissions to general and mental health hospitals, prescribing information and death certificates in Scotland for 11,984 former male professional footballers (born between 1900 and 1990) and 35,952 matched controls. of the general population.
The researchers found that during a median follow-up period of 21 years (≥30 years at the start of the study), 3.62 percent of former football players and 1.26 percent of matched controls had diagnosed with dementia (hazard ratio, 3.02). Compared to controls, rates of dementia risk factors related to general health and lifestyle were similar or lower among former football players (e.g., diabetes, 4.26 vs. 6.35 for hundred). Similarly, the risk of dementia associated with these factors among soccer players was similar to or lower than that of controls (e.g., hypertension, relative risks, 4.62 versus 6.96).
“This study provides further support for measures to reduce repetitive head impacts and exposure to head trauma in contact sports to combat the risk of dementia,” the authors write.
One author disclosed receiving grants from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association outside of the submitted work.
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