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[Lizzie Zoom]

So another legend of football's heading elite has now been diagnosed with dementia.

How many more of these legends, that I even recognised in the past, will go down with this terrible condition?

Those very hard and heavy leather footballs of those days have certainly taken their toll of many great footballers!

[YZ250]

I know what you are saying but both of my elderly parents have dementia, and they've never headed a football in their life.
In her head my mum went for a really long walk with the carer the other day and it frightened her so she asked to go home. It really upset her. As I say, it's in her head, as she hasn't moved, let alone walked, since a massive stroke in 2018.
My dad regularly phones in the early hours asking for help as the carers have locked him in a cage. He's tuned sideways in bed and seen the bed bars that stop him falling out of bed, so he thinks it's a cage. Anyone that has a relative with this terrible illness will tell you that you get dragged down so low yourself that you start to question the value of life itself. 
I've told my parents that if they outlive me after putting me through this I'll come back and haunt them.     At the moment, they do both know who I am, which is one saving grace, but for how long who knows.

[Rangie]

My brother in law has it he is 77 he recognised us both a few weeks ago but the speed at which he is declining I don't think he will on our next visit. This is the man who built computers from scratch & X ray machines, he couldn't even wire a 3 pin plug now and he was a brilliant musician ( mandolin & banjo). He has never played football either so this disease doesn't require a bang to the head.

[Nick W]

My mother is slowly declining, which is horrible to see. The fall she had earlier this week is unlikely to help.


Her sister declined to barely recognising anyone most of the time in about six months, before the cancer killed her. That's the same combination that finished off their mother.


None of them played football....

[Doctor Gollum]

The sports brain injuries long term effects now have a name. Alzheimers and dementia are unrelated to it.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/

As for alzheimers and dementia there's a reason we should stop treating pneumonia in old people.

You can only hope that the decline and demise is swift as it is devastating to watch, let alone live with. My stepmother used to care for her mother with alzheimers. Eventually, after several 2am knocks on the door (she lived a few houses away), she went into a care home. She kept escaping, or at least trying to, so the home had to keep her locked in. Once she stopped recognising her daughter, they moved 800 miles away. The worry went with them, but there comes a point where you have to accept that there's nothing you can do beyond keeping them safe.

Wouldn't wish the experience on anyone, but my Nan on my Mums side had dementia, as did her mother, and I suspect that eventually it will be what does for Mum too

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

My Dad had Dementia and slowly faded away until he died seven years ago. I wish something else had taken him a few years earlier and allowed him to go with his dignity intact. It was heartbreaking to watch.
It is a horrible evil thing, which I wouldnt wish on anyone. 

[Lizzie Zoom]

I know what you are saying but both of my elderly parents have dementia, and they've never headed a football in their life.

Yes, all too many of our loved ones can be affected by this terrible condition.

But studies in 2019 showed that footballers were 3.5 times more likely to suffer from dementia than the general population.  That is 5% compared to 1.6% of the non football playing people.

I agree with those that are trying to have changes made in that and the sport of rugby so less sportsmen suffer from head injuries.

[Rangie]

I have a friend who used to be a black cab driver in London, he is involved with tests into Dementia as it is very rare that black cab drivers suffer from this illness, something to do with the knowledge perhaps ? Who knows but it certainly is a cruel way for anybody to end their days.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Being alone with little mental stimulation definitely accelerates the decline. Therefore It sems logical that being active, having people to talk to etc. will slow it down.