Brynmaer t1_izpld1e wrote
Reply to comment by Curious_Teapot in NFL players, especially former linemen, had fewer disease-free years and earlier high blood pressure and diabetes diagnoses. Two age-related diseases, arthritis and dementia, were also more commonly found in former football players than in other men of the same age. by Wagamaga
Head injuries is not a bad supposition at all but that's why the science is being done.
Is dementia more common amongst ALL player or just certain positions?
Does being a larger person in general contribute to rates of dementia?
Are there other genetic factors that make someone more likely to be successful as a professional football player that also contribute to likelihood of dementia?
Are all head injuries more likely to lead to dementia or are there certain types that do? Are a handful of bigger hits to the head over a career more or less damaging than a lot of smaller head hits sustained consistently over a career?
Understanding all of the possible mechanisms can help inform players and possibly help tweak rules to mitigate the known risk factors through rule changes.
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