New Study: Football Linked to 19% of Youth Brain Injuries — What Parents Need to Know

A massive new study of more than 72,000 youth cases has found that football accounted for nearly one in five sports-related traumatic brain injuries, more than any other activity. Suffering one of those injuries can cause serious consequences, including chronic headaches and anxiety. Here's what parents should know about the findings while they consider letting their children play tackle football, including steps to protect their kids.

Shocking Study of 72,000 Kids Shows Football's Big Brain Risk for Young Players

The PR Newswire has reported on a new preliminary study from the American Academy of Neurology that examined 72,025 cases of youths suffering traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from activities. The study included young people (age 25 and under, average injury age 14) who hurt themselves while playing a wide array of sports, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, and more. Still, it clearly found that football caused more of the cases than any other sport and is more dangerous in a pivotal way.

Football accounted for 19% of the TBIs examined in the study, which was more than any other sport. Additionally, 37% of repeat traumatic brain injuries in the study were caused by football. That matters because repeated concussions while still recovering from a previous one can be extremely dangerous. A National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Center for Biotechnology Information book titled "Consequences of Repetitive Head Impacts and Multiple Concussions" describes why.

"A repeat injury while recovering from a prior concussion may occur with less force, take longer to resolve, and in rare cases lead to catastrophic results (e.g., second impact syndrome)."

The study also found that youth football players with TBIs face a higher risk of several consequences than other athletes. "After adjusting for age and sex, researchers found among those who played football, those with TBI had a 23% higher risk of chronic headaches compared to those without TBI, as well as a 5% higher risk of visual impairment, a 5% higher risk of anxiety, a 3% higher risk of depression and a 1% higher risk of substance use disorders. Visual impairment included double vision, decreased ability to see and in rare cases, complete blindness."

The study's author is Steven Wolf, MD, of Boston Children's Health Physicians in Hawthorne, New York, and member of the American Academy of Neurology. He described the steps that should be taken to decrease the dangers from youth football. "Our findings highlight youth football as a critical public health priority, suggesting that brain injuries sustained during key stages of development may reshape health later. Prioritizing safety standards like delaying tackle football participation and finding ways to limit repeat injuries could help better protect developing brains."

Given the realities of the TBI dangers that come with youth football, the most effective way to keep young people safe from them is to simply not let them play. Additionally, ensuring your child wears a properly fitting helmet is essential. On top of those basics, the CDC offers practical guidance for additional safety steps:

Look for a program that limits contact during practices, and ask the league or coach:

• How often do you do full-speed blocking or tackling drills?
• How much time to do you spend doing safe practice versus scrimmages and full-speed drills?
• Are certified athletic trainers available at games and practices?
• How do you teach and enforce fair play, safety, and sportsmanship?
• What is your protocol if you suspect a child sustains a concussion during a practice or game?

Talk to your child about the dangers of:

• Hitting another child in the head.
• Trying to injure or put another child at risk for injury.