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Soccer Moms Setting Kids Up for Alzheimer’s?

by Tracee Sioux on July 15th, 2008

Thanks to Mary Emma Allen for guest posting on Blog Fabulous. Mary Emma Allen writes four blogs for b5media: Alzheimer’s Notes Quilting and Patchwork, Home Biz Notes , and One Book Two Book.

“Setting my kids up for Alzheimer’s! No way! I’m a good mom,” you exclaim. “All the kids play soccer and football and sports like that.”

When I saw my granddaughter and her teammates stopping soccer balls with their heads and taking whomping hits, I cringed. That’s not how we played soccer in my day. (Yes, I did step into a depression on the soccer field and broke my leg during PE class. But not my head.)

Then there’s all that head contact when the kids play football at school and on community teams from a young age through high school. I’d wondered what damage results.

We generally wouldn’t let our kids beat their heads against a wall, no matter that we often hear that old adage about stone walls. So why in sports?

Is long term damage incurred in young minds and brains with head banging and concussions? Studies have come out that apparently connect football players’ brain injuries with memory loss and possible Alzheimer’s in older age.

The NFL, Concussions and Alzheimer’s disease

Ex-NFL players suffering from Alzheimer’s qualify for assistance.

Is this information something for parents to consider when they encourage their youngsters to participate in these sports, especially when there is so much pressure for winning teams, personal recognition and college scholarships?

What are your thoughts? If your youngsters play football or soccer or other head contact sports, does this concern you?

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

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POSTED IN: Fabulous Health, Fabulous Mothering