Football and MND

Summary

A previous study of professional footballers suggested that playing football professionally can increase MND risk sixfold. Prof Al-Chalabi and his co-applicant Dr Elisabetta Pupillo will replicate the study using a larger dataset of footballers in the UK and Italy. This data records the footballers’ playing careers, positions, and birth and death certificates. The team will explore whether playing football professionally increased, decreased, or did not affect the likelihood of dying from MND.

Why this research is important

We know that sports and exercise are on the whole beneficial to our health. However, if there is a link between playing professional football and MND it may help us to understand what causes MND and therefore how to prevent and/or treat it in specific populations of people.

To find out more, see our in-depth article on this project here or check out our video.

*This project is co-funded with the MND Association and Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, with a total value of £52,521.00.