Alzheimer’s Research UK is undertaking a comprehensive review
into the links between sport and dementia risk. The announcement
comes today (Wednesday 24 November), with the charity partnering
with The Health Policy Partnership to carry out the six-month
project.
Dementia is a heart-breaking condition that affects nearly one
million people in the UK. It commonly affects people’s memory and
thinking, which can bring confusion and fear not only to those
living with dementia but also for their loved ones.
Recent media attention has focussed on high profile dementia
cases, particularly within the sporting community. Emerging
research shows some ex-professional sports players are at
increased risk of developing the condition, but there has been
little evidence to determine why this is the case.
There are lots of factors that can contribute to a person’s risk
of developing dementia, and these can sometimes interact with
each other in ways that are difficult to study and understand.
When it comes to dementia risk, age, genetics, and lifestyle are
all at play. A landmark report estimated that eliminating 12
potentially modifiable risk factors linked to the condition could
prevent around 40% of dementia cases.
Now, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, Alzheimer’s
Research UK, have partnered with The Health Policy Partnership
(HPP) to conduct a new review to investigate the link between
sport and dementia.
The research project will last for six months and not only look
at the current evidence base for the benefits and risks of sports
but will also involve consultation with clinical, research and
sporting stakeholders to understand any existing gaps in
knowledge.
The charity hopes this work will help direct future research
questions and funding. Hat Hewitt, who owns her own CrossFit gym
in Watford, shared this hope of making sure we understand the
benefits and risk of sport.
“Exercise clearly plays an important role in my life and we hear
a lot about the importance of exercise for our health,
particularly around our mental wellbeing. This has been
particularly important throughout mine and my sisters’ time
caring for my mum who is living with a rare variant of
Alzheimer’s, called posterior cortical atrophy (PCA). Exercise
helps my mental wellbeing now but also protects it for the
future.
“Our brains are amazing and do a host of things day-to-day that
we don’t even think of but dementia can put this at risk as it
has for my mum. Funding research into the benefits and potential
risks of sport when it comes to dementia is important. It will
allow people to make more informed decisions about their
lifestyles, which can only be a good thing.”
Speaking about the new research Hilary Evans, CEO of Alzheimer’s
Research UK said:
“We know sport brings a range of health benefits, which also are
good for the brain, but the more we understand about the
potential risks of sport and their contribution towards the
overall risk of dementia, the better.
“We are committed to improving the understanding of the risk
factors for dementia with a view to minimising the number of
dementia cases in the future. With new evidence emerging, and the
relationship between certain sports and dementia risk receiving
increasing scrutiny, this review is vital to help inform the
direction of future research in this area.
“The review fits in with Alzheimer’s Research UK’s existing
research into risk and dementia prevention, helping realise our
vision to live in a world free of the fear, heartbreak and harm
that dementia brings.”
Christine Ridout from The Health Policy Partnership said:
“We know the impact dementia can have on the lives of so many and
we are excited to partner with Alzheimer's Research UK on this
important research. This comprehensive review of the evidence on
the risks and benefits of sport in relation to dementia will help
us identify worldwide gaps in knowledge and highlight lessons
that can be learnt across different countries and sports. We will
also closely consult with experts from the sporting, clinical and
scientific fields in the UK to learn from their experiences and
discuss where evidence is missing or unclear. Combining these
approaches, we hope to build an evidence-based platform that can
shape the research and policy agenda for years to come.”
Prof Jon Schott, Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Chief Medical Officer,
said:
“Evidence suggests that for most of the population, what is good
for heart health is also good for the brain. There’s been growing
interest in the link between head injuries and dementia, from the
more severe traumatic brain injury to repeated sports injuries.
While we know that one specific type of dementia - chronic
traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - is associated with head injury
there is still a limited amount of robust research in the area.
We need a review like this to prioritise the most important
questions to answer and shape research in the future.”
