Neurodegenerative Disease and Association Football (NDAF): Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sports Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Head injuries in Association Football (soccer) raise concerns about long-term neurological health.
• Previous research suggests a potential link between head impacts and adverse health outcomes in athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between head impacts/injuries in football and the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.
• To quantify the risk of specific neurodegenerative conditions in football players compared to control groups.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and Ovid databases up to April 2025.
• Meta-analysis of ten studies (nine suitable from eight cohorts) using PRISMA guidelines.
• Inclusion of studies comparing neurodegenerative disease rates in football players versus athletic and general populations.

Main Results:

• A 1.69 increased odds of any neurodegeneration (p=0.01) and a 2.16 increased odds of dementia (p<0.01) were observed.
• After heterogeneity reduction, the odds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) became significant (OR 1.81, p=0.01).
• No significant association was found for Parkinson's Disease (PD).

Conclusions:

• Professional football participation is associated with a significantly increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, especially dementia.
• The findings highlight the potential long-term neurological consequences of repetitive head impacts in football.
• Further research may be warranted to explore preventative strategies and understand underlying mechanisms.