A Risk Known for Nearly 100 Years

Research has shown that professional soccer players, rugby players, and boxers face significantly elevated risks of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, after retirement. Their condition is known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), caused by repetitive head impacts.

This risk has actually been recognized for nearly a century. In 1928, American pathologist Harrison Martland wrote in an academic journal: "A peculiar condition known in ring terminology as 'punch drunk' appears among professional boxers, characterized by staggering gait and mental confusion." At the time, it was classified as 'dementia pugilistica,' with Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) being the most famous case.

What Is CTE?

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease that occurs in some professional athletes who experience repetitive head impacts. It primarily affects players in American football, ice hockey, rugby, and boxing.

Jean Chazal, a neurosurgeon in Clermont-Ferrand, France, analyzed over 400 studies and warned that even minor impacts can lead to serious consequences. While it remains unclear why CTE develops in only some athletes, it's evident that accumulated impacts cause brain damage.

Don't Miss the Warning Signs

Early symptoms include:

• Mood changes: Irritability, depression, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation
• Behavioral changes: Increased impulsivity and aggression
• Cognitive decline: Memory loss, difficulty planning, progression to dementia
• Physical function problems: Muscle coordination disorders, speech impairment

Notably, symptoms don't appear immediately. Most manifest fully after age 60, though mood changes can begin in one's 30s or 40s. Dementia symptoms emerge even later.

Diagnosis is primarily conducted through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), but definitive diagnosis is only possible through post-mortem examination.

Need for Stronger Sports Safety Regulations

The Italian Neurological Society takes seriously the long-term effects of repetitive concussions on brain health. Youth athletes are particularly vulnerable as their brains are still developing.

Experts recommend the following preventive measures:

1. Heading restrictions: Limit heading frequency in youth soccer
2. Improved protective equipment: Use helmets and headgear with higher shock absorption
3. Concussion protocols: Immediately stop play and conduct examinations when concussion is suspected
4. Regular checkups: Mandatory neurological examinations for active and retired athletes

Currently, some European soccer leagues have implemented regulations prohibiting or restricting heading for U-12 (under 12 years old) players.