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Injuries caused by contact sports, such as rugby, boxing and martial arts, have been associated with an increased risk of dementia. A new study says that contact sports can actually lead to other neurodegenerative diseases, and explains why.
Such a study argues that brain damage could accelerate the processes responsible for Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common type of dementia.
She is most characterized by memory loss, a feeling of disorientation and an inability to continue her daily routine.
Numerous studies have suggested in recent years that repeated head injuries result from participation in contact sports. are related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is a degenerative brain disease that can lead to dementia.
A study conducted by researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine in Massachusetts found that people also practicing being more likely to develop Lewy body disease.
In this condition, a protein called alpha-synuclein forms abnormal deposits known as Lewy bodies in the brain. Lewy disease is associated with dementia symptoms, as well as Parkinson's disease.
Traditionally, scientists believed that the motor symptoms – such as tremors, slow movement and difficulty walking – experienced by some athletes were attributable to CTE.
However, researchers rather argue that these symptoms are actually a byproduct of Lewy's disease, regardless of CTE. "We found the number of years during which an individual was exposed to contact sports, including football, ice hockey and boxing was associated with neocortex development [Lewy body disease] and Lewy disease, in turn, was associated with parkinsonism and dementia, "says author of the study, Dr. Thor Stein
of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.
Dr. Stein and Dr. The team drew their conclusions after studying 694 brains from three sources: Veteran Affairs-Boston University-Legacy FoundationBrain Bank, Alzheimer's Disease Center of Boston University and Framingham Heart Study.
They found that the total number of years that a person had spent contact sports was associated with an increased risk of developing Lewy bodies in the cerebral cortex. 19659002] Those who practiced spo contact for more than 8 years posed the greatest risk of developing Lewy disease. in fact, that the increase in risk observed among people who practiced contact sports for 8 years or less.
In addition, people with CTE and Lewy disease had a higher risk of dementia and Parkinson's disease.
These results may not be surprising. After all, as the authors note, previous research had already shown that the number of years spent practicing contact sports could be used to predict the severity of dementia-related pathology, as well as the severity of the condition. CTE among former players. The research, say the scientists, relies on data provided by existing studies, but further efforts should be made to more accurately determine the health risks to which repeated brain damage exposes the athletes
. [Lewy body disease] and contact sport will be needed to more accurately determine the best threshold and risk of participation in contact sports, "the researchers write.
Published in the Daily Times, July 30 2018.
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