'Brain damage risk' from popular sports

Sports players who suffer repeated concussions risk damaging their mental ability, researchers have found.

Two studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association - on football in the UK and the US - have found a link between multiple concussions and neuropsychological problems.

A Dutch study warned that repeated concussions suffered by football players impair memory and the ability to plan.

Similar mental impairment among college students who play American football, or gridiron was found in a US study - with some athletes suffering long-term damage.

The researchers compared the results of tests of brain function on 33 amateur football players with those from 27 middle-distance runners and swimmers.

They found that 39% of football players showed impaired performance on tests that measured planning abilities, compared to 13% in the other group of athletes.

On memory tests, 27% of the football players showed impairment, compared with seven per cent of the swimmers and runners.

The researchers said: "These findings suggest that participation in amateur soccer may be associated with mild chronic traumatic brain injury."

Of the football players studied 27% had suffered one concussion during their playing career and 23% had suffered two to five concussions.

American footballers at risk

The US study focused on 393 college American footballers.

The athletes were interviewed about their medical history and undertook written and verbal neuropsychological tests to test memory, problem solving, speed of information processing and coordination.

Any footballer who then suffered a concussion was given the same tests to measure the impact on mental function.

The research found that within 24 hours of the injury, the performance of concussed athletes was noticeably poorer in the areas of verbal learning, memory and speed of information processing.

Problems in these areas were also recorded up to five days later.

The study also found that players who had sustained more than one concussion suffered damage that can last for years.

There is approximately a one-in-three chance that a college footballer will suffer concussion during his playing career.

Dr Michael Collins, from the Division of Neuropsychology at Henry Ford Health System, said: "Our study revealed a trend that warrants further investigation to see why these players are at risk of impaired neurological function."

Torn nerve cells

Concussion, which basically involves the stretching or tearing of nerve cells within the brain, can lead to neuropsychological deficit. It causes a disruption of the metabolic processes within the brain.

Although in most cases this is thought to be temporary, many scientists believe that if the brain sustains a second injury while still recovering from a first injury, a more permanent injury is likely to take place.