The beautiful game as a description of football was popularised by the Brazilian professional footballer Pelé. In 1977, he named his autobiography ’My life and the beautiful game’ and since then the phrase has entered the language as a description for football.

Every week thousands of people of all ages lace up their boots and enjoy all levels of football, from a ‘kick about’ with mates to a professional league match.

Taking part in a regular game of football is a great way to keep fit and active, and even junior clubs give advice on healthy eating and other aspects of wellbeing, alongside techniques and strategies for play.

However, recent research has revealed a worrying aspect of this particular sport. A study by the Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group into the prevalence of dementia among former players appears to confirm a link between devastating brain injury and football, whether through repetitive heading or collisions.

The reports found that there was a five-fold increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s, a four-fold increase in Motor Neurone disease and a two-fold increase in Parkinson’s. The research also found former footballers were almost five times more likely to have been prescribed dementia drugs.

According to the NHS website this study is an interesting place to start to find out more about the risks for professional players, most importantly to try to find whether there is a specific cause (such as heading the ball) and whether that risk can be reduced.

What the study does not tell us is why that is, or whether that risk applies to people who play football at non-professional levels and may not apply to the majority of people who play football for fun. Even keen amateur footballers are unlikely to play as often or as intensively as professional players.

More positively, the research did confirm how playing football and being active reduced risks of other serious diseases, such as heart disease and certain types of cancer. And the NHS website confirmed: “Football is a good way to keep active and healthy. This study does not mean that people who enjoy kicking a ball about for fun should be worried about it.”

However, as health risks are exposed it could mean that the way the ‘beautiful game’ is played changes to allow for less harmful moves.The Ross Gazette would be interested to know if health fears, such as an increase in the risk of dementia, would make you think twice before encouraging a child to take up a sport such as football or rugby. Email [email protected] with your thoughts.