Head injuries sustained during football, rugby and boxing should be officially recognised as a cause of dementia, a major report has suggested.
Experts believe these activities raise the risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain condition linked to years of repeated head impacts.
The report, published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia, studied 614 brain donors that had been exposed to repetitive head traumas, primarily contact sport athletes.
Brain donors who had the most advanced form of CTE, with no signs of other progressive brain diseases, were four times more likely to have dementia than those without the condition.
‘This study provides evidence of CTE being a possible cause of dementia,’ Professor Michael Alosco, neurology expert at Boston University and study senior author said.
‘Establishing that cognitive symptoms and dementia are outcomes of CTE moves us closer to being able to accurately detect and diagnose CTE during life, which is urgently needed.’
The findings come amid growing legal action against football authorities, with former players and families claiming the sport failed to protect them from brain injuries caused by repeated impacts, including heading.
Yesterday a coroner ruled that heading a football ‘likely’ contributed to brain injury that was a factor in the death of former Scotland defender Gordon McQueen.
Gordon McQueen died aged 70 after a 16-year career. It was found yesterday that heading a football likely contributed to the brain injury which was a factor in his death
The coroner said: ‘It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE’
Everyone experiences dementia differently. Use this checklist to help you make a note of your symptoms before you talk to your GP.
McQueen died aged 70 after a 16-year career. He had been diagnosed with both vascular dementia and CTE.
The coroner said: ‘It is likely that repetitive head impacts sustained by heading the ball while playing football contributed to the CTE.’
A string of high-profile footballers have also been diagnosed with dementia before their deaths, including 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ray Wilson and Martin Peters.
Former Burnley star Andy Peyton was diagnosed with young-onset dementia at 57 after suffering headaches and memory problems. He reportedly sought a brain scan after his former teammate Dean Windass was given the same diagnosis.
CTE is marked by a distinctive build-up of toxic tau proteins in the brain, which form clumps known as plaques and tangles – similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s, the most common cause of dementia.
However, researchers say CTE has its own characteristic pattern of damage and can trigger a different clinical picture, meaning many cases are missed or mistaken for other conditions.
Early symptoms may include changes in mood, personality and behaviour, before progressing to more obvious short-term memory loss, confusion and difficulties with planning and organising.
Some patients can also develop problems with movement.
The former striker Andy Peyton is the latest player to say he has been diagnosed with young-onset dementia as cases continue to accelerate
Other notable deaths include Jack Charlton, Nobby Stiles and Martin Peters
Peyton was prompted to go for a brain scan after his former teammate Dean Windass (pictured) was diagnosed with young-onset dementia
Symptoms tend to develop gradually, often around a decade after years of repeated head impacts.
The study also found dementia linked to CTE is frequently misdiagnosed in life.
Among 186 donors who had received a dementia diagnosis while alive, 40 per cent were told they had Alzheimer’s disease – despite there being no evidence of Alzheimer’s at autopsy.
Another 38 per cent had been told the cause of their dementia was ‘unknown’ or could not be specified.
Prof Alosco added: ‘There is a viewpoint out there that CTE is a benign brain disease; this is the opposite of the experience of most patients and families.
‘Evidence from this study shows CTE has a significant impact on people’s lives, and now we need to accelerate efforts to distinguish CTE from Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia during life.’
