Football heading linked to progressive brain disease, expert says
Former Scotland defender Frank McQueen's death has raised concerns about the risks of heading footballs. An inquest found that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease. Consultant neuropathologist Professor Willie Stewart explained that repeated head impacts, especially from heading footballs, were the only available causal evidence for CTE. The findings highlight increased risks for outfield football players compared to goalkeepers.
Match highlights
- Frank McQueen was diagnosed with vascular dementia and CTE was found in multiple areas of his brain.
- Professor Willie Stewart stated that repeated heading of footballs is linked to CTE and contributed significantly to McQueen's death.
- Symptoms of CTE include cognitive decline and neurobehavioural changes, which are progressive and not explained by other conditions.
- Outfield football players, especially defenders, have a higher risk of developing CTE than goalkeepers.
- Goalkeepers, who rarely head the ball, have a risk similar to the general population.
