Football Industry Did Not Know About the Number of Footballers with Dementia

The PFA's Brain Health division leads the union's work around educating and supporting current and former members on all things related to their brain health. The union states that its work is focused on two areas: “developing a culture of positive brain health for players across football”, and “enhancing the quality of life for players living with neurodegenerative disease.”
The department is led by Dr Adam White, an interdisciplinary researcher crossing sport, medicine and health and the co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation.
The union conducts year-round workshops in clubs, educating players and staff coaches on associated risks, relevant guidelines, and the need to protect players' brain health during training and matches.
The department funds and promotes academic research focused on improving current and former players brain health, including brain donation. The PFA has co-funded two studies, FIELD and FOCUS, to help advance understandings of dementia amongst former professional footballers.
In September 2023, the PFA and Premier League launched the Football Brain Health Fund. The fund was established with an initial allocation of £1 million to provide financial support to former players and their families affected by dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. The union's CEO, Maheta Molango, has said there needs to be a “football-wide responsibility” in supporting former players with neurodegenerative disease.
The PFA's Brain Health division provides guidance and support for players and families suffering with neurodegenerative disease, including free access to Admiral Nurses specialising in dementia care. Dawn Astle and Rachel Walden, daughters of Jeff Astle and Rod Taylor respectively, joined the union in 2021 to support the union's care provision for members.
The PFA and FA co-fund the Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic. Located at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH) in central London, the clinic provides confidential and specialist neurological assessments to mid-life retired male and female professional footballers.
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales.
Founded in 1907, it is the world's oldest professional sports trade union, with approximately 5,000 current members each season, including players from the Premier League, EFL and Women's Super League. Nearly 50,000 former members retain access to services and benefits including education grants, coaching courses and wellbeing support.
The PFA actively supports players with legal assistance, representation on contractual and disciplinary matters, and offers personal and professional development opportunities. The union also provides extensive mental and physical wellbeing support, and is committed to advocating for player rights at national and international levels. This includes taking legal action on issues such as player workload and pushing for equal representation and conditions in women's football.
Current initiatives include the PFA Business School, which provides leadership training for players, and exclusive UEFA coaching programmes. The union also prioritises brain health through research and direct support for members dealing with neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, it runs rehabilitation programmes for injured players, pre-season camps for out-of-contract members, and ongoing aftercare support for former professionals transitioning into life after football.
The current CEO of the PFA is Maheta Molango, who took over in 2021, and the Players' Board, led by Leyton Orient's Omar Beckles., represents member interests.
Channel about football (soccer), heading, brain injury and dementia.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries. Symptoms may include behavioral problems, mood problems, and problems with thinking. Symptoms typically do not begin until years after the injuries. CTE often gets worse over time and can result in dementia. It is unclear if the risk of suicide is altered.
Most documented cases have occurred in athletes involved in contact sports such as boxing, American football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby and soccer. Other risk factors include being in the military, prior domestic violence, and repeated banging of the head. The exact amount of trauma required for the condition to occur is unknown. Definitive diagnosis can only occur at autopsy. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a form of tauopathy. As of 2018, there is no specific treatment.
#football #dementia #heading
‘PFA pre-season’ was made available to PFA members who were under professional contracts over the 2023/24 season.
Each week-long camp provided members with a full pre-season training schedule, including on-pitch training and fixtures, strength and conditioning as well as rehabilitation and recovery sessions.