NFL PLAYERS TREBLE THE RISK OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

 September  2012 - New research

 

Neurology [2012] Sep 5 [Epub ahead of print] (Lehman EJ, Hein MJ, Baron SL, Gersic CM.) 

Players in the NFL ("American" Football's National Football League) were found to have treble the risk of haiving a neurodegenerative disease generally. This included Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease and ALS. The figures for Alzheimer's Disease were more than three times more likely, and the figures for ALS were more than four times more likely. The likelihood of developing Parkinson's Disease was less than these. Although the research suggests that concussions and repeated blows to the head are likely to blame for the increased risk, the researcher says multiple studies are needed to definitively blame concussions.