Football increases the risk for Lou Gehrig's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
A recent report of a six-fold increase in prevalence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, in soccer players prompted a similar investigation in National Football League players in the United States. Using the internet, a retrospective analysis indicated 8 of the 3,891 players who played or debuted after 1960 had ALS, a prevalence of 206 per 100,000, a 40-fold higher prevalence rate than the rate of 5 per 100,000 in the general U.S. population (p<.001, binomial theorem). While no etiology for ALS has been established, the very high rate associated with professional football warrants further examination.
Abel
Ernest L
EL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, USA. eabel@wayne.edu
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D005538:Football / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology