NFL players who had childhood trauma are more likely to develop dementia

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-03-23 02:00

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Elite American footballers who experienced childhood trauma are more likely to develop dementia later in life according to international researchers, suggesting there may be a link between childhood trauma, concussions and then long-term neuropsychiatric health problems. The researchers looked at dementia symptoms, adverse childhood events (ACEs) like neglect and abuse, and concussion history among 1755 former NFL players. They say players with four or more ACEs were at 48 per cent greater risk of dementia, and were at 60 per cent greater risk of being in the top quartile of concussion symptoms. The researchers suggest childhood trauma may lead to a more aggressive, risk-taking playing style which then leads to additional head trauma, or players with childhood trauma may experience concussion symptoms differently, especially depression and anxiety symptoms.

Media release

From: JAMA

What The Study Did: This cross-sectional study investigates the association of adverse childhood experiences with poor neuropsychiatric health and dementia among former NFL players and whether football-related concussions accounted for the association.

Authors: Andrea L. Roberts, Ph.D., of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, is the corresponding author.

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, USA

Funder: The Football Players Health Study is supported by the NFL Players Association.

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