Brain damage in boxers and soccer players

Half of all soccer players suffers from a concussion during their playing career. With amateur boxers, one in eight fights ends with a concussion and with professionals this is probably the case in all fights. Athletes suffering multiple concussions are prone to develop chronic brain injury, which may lead to dementia. Most victims in this respect are found amongst professional boxers, in 40 to 80 percent of which chronic brain damage has been demonstrated. There are also indications that frequent heading may play a role in the development of chronic brain damage. Brain injury resulting from boxing and soccer cannot be fully prevented, but the damage can be limited. The Health Council of the Netherlands today presents an advisory report on this to the State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport.

Committee

• Professor J Troost, Neurologist, Maastricht University Hospital, Chairman
• Dr EJ Matser, Neuropsychologist, St Anna Hospital, Geldrop
• AGH Kessels, Epidemiologist, Maastricht University Hospital
• Dr CR van den Hoogenband, Surgeon, St Anna Hospital, Geldrop; Club Physician, PSV Eindhoven
• Professor D Swaab, Director, Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam
• Dr PAM Hofman, Neuroradiologist, Maastricht University Hospital
• Dr J Steenbergen,  Amsterdam, Researcher/advisor
• Dr J van Hoof, Physicist, TNO Road Transport, Delft
• M Beusenberg, Physicist, TNO Road Transport, Delft, advisor
• JPM Hogenbirk, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, advisor
• Dr E van Rongen, Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, secretary