Age of First Exposure Does Not Relate to Post‑Career Health in Former Professional American‑Style Football Players

Sports Medicine, 2024 · DOI: 10.1007/s40279-024-02062-9 · Published: June 26, 2024

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether starting to play American football at a young age affects the long-term health of former professional players. Researchers compared former players who started playing before age 12 with those who started later, looking at depression, anxiety, cognitive issues, and other health problems. The study found no significant link between starting football young and later-life health issues after considering other factors like age, race, and concussion history.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

4189 former professional American football players

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
AFE was not independently associated with adverse later life outcomes.
2
No significant relationships between AFE < 12 and any outcome were found in multivariable models.
3
Linear and non-linear models examining AFE as a continuous variable showed similar null results.

Research Summary

This study examined a large cohort of former professional American-style football players to better understand associations between early AFE to football and a variety of outcomes. Despite the finding that men in the AFE < 12 group had more cumulative football exposure over their athletic career than the AFE 12 + group, all adjusted outcome analyses showed no evidence that early AFE was independently associated with adverse later life health outcomes. Accordingly, we saw no convincing signal that AFE of less than 12 years of age independently predicts later-life risk of adverse health outcomes among former NFL players.

Practical Implications

Policy Implications

Data suggest age of first exposure should not be used in isolation to determine youth sport policy as it relates to professional football players.

Clinical relevance

The effect size measurements clarify the lack of clinical relevance of statistical significance given the large size of the sample.

Future Research

Future longitudinal cohort studies of youth football might further clarify the potentially harmful elements of youth football.

Age of First Exposure Does Not Relate to Post‑Career Health in Former Professional American‑Style Football Players

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Policy Implications

Clinical relevance

Future Research

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Age of First Exposure Does Not Relate to Post‑Career Health in Former Professional American‑Style Football Players

Simple Explanation

Key Findings

Research Summary

Practical Implications

Policy Implications

Clinical relevance

Future Research

Study Limitations

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?