A study examining the link between head injuries and dementia among former footballers, supported by the Football Association (FA) and England manager Gareth Southgate, has faced accusations of conflict of interest. Three key researchers involved in the study, titled Health and Ageing Data in the Game of Football (HEADING), were also members of a council tasked with addressing the issue of dementia in football. The initial findings of the study suggest no association between heading a football and poorer cognitive function among ex-professional players. However, many neurologists disagree with these conclusions. Concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest, as two co-authors of the HEADING study remain members of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC), which is considering whether to recognize dementia in football as an industrial disease. Despite the FA’s involvement in promoting the study, it did not run or financially support the research.
