UEFA to launch study into link between playing football and dementia

Uefa has commissioned a research project that will examine the links between dementia and playing football. Tentative research published earlier this month (You can read the story here) suggested repeated headers during a player's career may be linked to long-term brain damage. The research examined the brains of six players renowned for heading the ball - all of whom later developed dementia. The Football Association has said it will look at the area more closely, but is yet to announce its own study. European football's governing body UEFA says the project, which will begin on Friday, "aims to help establish the risk posed to young players during matches and training sessions". One Premier League club will be involved in the study.
The FA says it is committed to supporting research into degenerative brain disease among former players, but authorities in English football have been criticised over a perceived reluctance to confront the issue. He said it would be "taking some research questions to Fifa imminently" after it was revealed three members of England's 1966 World Cup squad - Martin Peters, Nobby Stiles and Ray Wilson - had Alzheimer's.

Source: BBC