Storm in the football industry: Can heading the ball cause brain damage?
A new study from Scotland reveals that professional football players are at a significantly higher risk of developing neurological diseases. The risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's, is 3.4 times higher for them.
A new study from Scotland reveals alarming findings: professional football players are at a significantly higher risk of developing neurological diseases compared to the general population. In an interview with "HaOlam HaBoker", Professor Eitan Friedman, director of the Institute for Early Genetic Diagnosis at Assuta Ramat HaHayal, stated:
"The risk of them having a neurological, neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer's, is 3.4 times higher."
The study also shows that the risk is particularly high for players in defensive positions, who are more exposed to headers during the game.
The main cause of the increased risk, Professor Friedman explains, is not a one-time concussion but cumulative damage throughout a career. According to him, the findings reinforce the view that these are "repetitive micro-traumas" – small but numerous injuries caused by repeated headers. To illustrate the force of the impact, he notes that "a ball in a real game can reach over 100 kilometers per hour when it hits your head," and the cumulative effect of these impacts is what increases the danger of developing degenerative brain diseases.
Awareness of this danger is already permeating the global football community, as demonstrated by the story of the legendary British striker Alan Shearer.
"Shearer made a documentary called 'Alan Shearer: Dementia, Football and Me', after testifying that all his life he headed the ball more than 150 times a day," said Friedman.
The documentary, born from Shearer's concerns about the link between frequent headers and future neurological problems, has become a symbol of the struggle of many players seeking to bring the issue to the agenda and deal with its long-term health consequences.
Growing awareness of the dangers has led to a search for solutions, but the path has not been simple. Early attempts, such as using headgear, proved ineffective in reducing injuries. Now, the focus is shifting to prevention at a young age, and Italy, for example, is leading a groundbreaking move with new regulations in youth departments.
"Children up to age 10 are not allowed to head the ball at all. At age 11, they are allowed to head the ball five times a month," Friedman detailed the guidelines.
This is a conceptual shift aimed at protecting the next generation of players.
