Longer duration of play and higher level of play both tied to higher risk<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Past participation in football is associated with higher odds of having a reported parkinsonism or Parkinson disease (PD) diagnosis, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in JAMA Network Open<\/em>.<\/p>\n Hannah J. Bruce, from the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, and colleagues evaluated the association between football participation and self-reported parkinsonism or PD diagnosis. Analysis included 1,875 men who endorsed playing any organized sport (including football in 729 men).<\/p>\n The researchers found that a history of playing football was associated with higher odds of having a parkinsonism or PD diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 1.61). Longer duration of play was associated with higher odds of having a parkinsonism or PD diagnosis (OR, 1.12), overall, and among football players (OR, 1.12). Playing football at a higher level of play further heightened odds of having parkinsonism or PD (OR, 2.93).<\/p>\n “The findings suggest that American football participation might be a risk factor for developing parkinsonism or PD,” the authors write. “Prospective research among community-based samples that objectively evaluate parkinsonism and PD in former American football players across different levels of play will clarify the observed associations.”<\/p>\n Two authors disclosed ties to the biotechnology industry.<\/p>\n