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Pensato U, Cortelli P. Soccer (football) and brain health. J Neurol 2024; 271:3019-3029. [PMID: 38558150 PMCID: PMC11136867 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12320-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Soccer is one of the most popular sports worldwide, played by over 270 million people and followed by many more. Several brain health benefits are promoted by practising soccer and physical exercise at large, which helps contrast the cognitive decline associated with ageing by enhancing neurogenesis processes. However, sport-related concussions have been increasingly recognised as a pressing public health concern, not only due to their acute impact but also, more importantly, due to mounting evidence indicating an elevated risk for the development of neurological sequelae following recurrent head traumas, especially chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). While soccer players experience less frequent concussions compared with other contact or combat sports, such as American football or boxing, it stands alone in its purposeful use of the head to hit the ball (headings), setting its players apart as the only athletes exposed to intentional, sub-concussive head impacts. Additionally, an association between soccer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been consistently observed, suggesting a potential "soccer-specific" risk factor. In this review, we discuss the neurological sequelae related to soccer playing, the emerging evidence of a detrimental effect related to recurrent headings, and the need for implementation of comprehensive strategies aimed at preventing and managing the burden of head impact in soccer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Pensato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56 Rozzano, 20089, Milan, Italy.
| | - Pietro Cortelli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Bruce HJ, Tripodis Y, McClean M, Korell M, Tanner CM, Contreras B, Gottesman J, Kirsch L, Karim Y, Martin B, Palmisano J, Abdolmohammadi B, Shih LC, Stein TD, Stern RA, Adler CH, Mez J, Nowinski C, McKee AC, Alosco ML. American Football Play and Parkinson Disease Among Men. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2328644. [PMID: 37566412 PMCID: PMC10422187 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.28644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Parkinsonism and Parkinson disease (PD) are known to result from repetitive head impacts from boxing. Repetitive head impacts from American football may also be associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative pathologies that cause parkinsonism, yet in vivo research on the association between football play and PD is scarce and limited by small samples and equivocal findings. Objective To evaluate the association between football participation and self-reported parkinsonism or PD diagnosis. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study leveraged data from the online Fox Insight study. Participants completed online questionnaires and self-reported whether they currently had a diagnosis of Parkinson disease or parkinsonism by a physician or other health care professional. In November 2020, the Boston University Head Impact Exposure Assessment was launched for data collection on repetitive head impacts. Data used for this manuscript were obtained from the Fox Insight database on June 9, 2022. A total of 1875 men who endorsed playing any organized sport were included. Former athletes were divided into those who participated in football (n = 729 [38.9%]) and those who participated in other sports (reference group). Exposures Self-reported participation in football, duration and level of football play, age at first exposure. Main Outcomes and Measures Logistic regression tested associations between PD status and history of football play, duration of football play, highest level played, and age at first exposure, controlling for age, education, history of diabetes or heart disease, body mass index, history of traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, and family history of PD. Results In this sample of 1875 men (mean [SD] age, 67.69 [9.84] years) enriched for parkinsonism or PD (n = 1602 [85.4%]), 729 (38.9%) played football (mean [SD] duration, 4.35 [2.91] years). History of playing football was associated with higher odds of having a parkinsonism or PD diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% CI, 1.19-2.17). Among the entire sample, longer duration of play was associated with higher odds of having a parkinsonism or PD diagnosis (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.06-1.19). Among football players, longer duration of football play (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02-1.23) and higher level of play (OR, 2.93; 95% CI, 1.28-6.73) were associated with higher odds of having parkinsonism or PD. Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study of participants enriched for PD, participation in football was associated with higher odds of having a reported parkinsonism or PD diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah J. Bruce
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael McClean
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Monica Korell
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco
| | | | | | - Joshua Gottesman
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, New York, New York
| | - Leslie Kirsch
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, New York, New York
| | - Yasir Karim
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, New York, New York
| | - Brett Martin
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joseph Palmisano
- Biostatistics and Epidemiology Data Analytics Center, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bobak Abdolmohammadi
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ludy C. Shih
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert A. Stern
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charles H. Adler
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale
| | - Jesse Mez
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Ann C. McKee
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Bedford Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, Massachusetts
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael L. Alosco
- Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center, Department of Neurology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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Roberta de Souza Mendes Kawamura L, Ferreira Lima Mota I, Santos Vasconcelos A, Renata Mortari M. Challenges in the pharmacological treatment of patients under suspicion of chronic traumatic encephalopathy: A review. Brain Res 2023; 1799:148176. [PMID: 36503890 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is caused by progressive neurodegeneration associated with repetitive head impacts. This disease is more common in professionals who practice contact sports, resulting in a concussion and subconcussive trauma. CTE is characterized by the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in neurons, astrocytes, and frontotemporal lobe degeneration. Symptoms are usually nonspecific and overlap with other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia, making it difficult to provide drug treatment for patients with this comorbidity. Therefore, the objective of this article is to present an updated review of the pharmacological treatment of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and its challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Isabela Ferreira Lima Mota
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Márcia Renata Mortari
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brazil
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Goalkeepers Live Longer than Field Players: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis Based on World-Class Football Players. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17176297. [PMID: 32872456 PMCID: PMC7504036 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to study whether the position occupied by footballers on the pitch influences their life duration. It is known that various types of sporting activity (endurance, resistance, or mixed) may influence lifespan in different ways. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the role of different positions played in team sports such as football. Our research was based on elite international football players born before 1923 who took part in the first three football World Cups (n = 443) or played in the 1946/1947 season in the leading clubs of the main European leagues (n = 280). Goalkeepers were characterized by a 5–8-year longer life duration compared to their colleagues playing in other positions (World Cup: 82.0 ± 7.0 vs. 74.0 ± 8.0, p = 0.0047; European leagues: 83.0 ± 7.5 vs. 78.0 ± 8.0, p = 0.0023), with an absence of differences between defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Moreover, in both of the analyzed subgroups, the rate of survival until the 85th birthday was significantly higher among goalkeepers than among field players (p = 0.0102 and p = 0.0048, for both studied groups, respectively).
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