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Soccer heading can lead to brain damage and mid-life dementia - here's what should be done

Howard G. Smith, M.D.Mar 15, 2017, 23:17 IST

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Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. In the United States, 30% of households have a member playing the game, and 3 million American children play in youth soccer leagues.

Among 12 to 17 year adolescents, MLS is more popular than MLB. Children begin playing in pre-school, and their play may extend into college or beyond.

Many parents encourage their children to play soccer, since it is considered a non-contact sport and seems safe. But now, the latest research from neuropathologists at the University College London casts doubt on that assumption. Their work offers compelling evidence that soccer heading produces progressive brain damage and leads to heartbreaking dementia later in life.

Here's the story: