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d news for parents of high school football players.
A recent study showed that playing football in high school does not increase the risk of getting depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s or other forms of mental impairment in later life.
Clinicians studied men at age 65-70 who had graduated from Wisconsin high schools during the later half of the fifties. Football players were found to be no more likely to have these impaired mental functions than other high school athletes. Another finding indicated football players had no increase of anger, anxiety, hostility, or heavy use of alcohol than other graduates.
The authors noted that helmets in the fifties were of much lower quality than today’s and coaches, parents, and even doctors had a somewhat dismissive attitude toward concussions. Evaluation and treatment were inconsistent and coaches were reluctant to bench high performing, injured players. Rules have changed too, spearing – head-first tackling – was not prohibited but was taught as a good form of tackling. All these things would make today’s players better protected.
As a note of caution, the authors added that today’s players are usually more muscular, heavier, and faster than their grand fathers, which could increase the risk to current players. There is not data available to support that contention.
The results were unlike the findings with NFL players; professional athletes have a greater risk of impairment. So, I think parents can relax, it is highly unlikely than many of today’s high school athletes will go pro.
So get out there Friday night and enjoy the worlds greatest sport – High School football!
Another study, this one from the Mayo Clinic, identified 296 varsity football players and 190 athletes engaging in other sports. They evaluated them 45 – 60 years later and found that compared with non-football athletes, football players did not have an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease overall or of the individual conditions of dementia, parkinsonism, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The Tennessean published articles in today’s sports section regarding NFL players and CTE- (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) a form of dementia and depression found following repeated brain injury. I’m sure it left many parents afraid to let their kids play football. If you have a chance try to find today’s paper -it’s available on line- and read it. There are no studies showing football is dangerous to kids brains. Even 50 or more years after graduating HS. football players were found to be healthier in several ways than those who never played.