Some time ago, a study showed that headers can significantly increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's in professional football players. A report on the problem has now been published in the ARD Sportschau, in which among other things the NEO header study of the MSH research team led by Prof. Dr. Dr. Karsten Hollander was presented.
Due to some recent cases and the debate on the long-term mental health of athletes, there is a great interest in the field of neurophysiological changes caused by headballs and cranium-brain traumas. There is a great lack of research in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cranium-brain traumas. Rapid and sensitive diagnosis of cranium-brain traumas, preferably at the competition site, is given a high priority. Diagnosis of neuro-ophthalmological functions promises to be a promising approach, as they are particularly sensitive to traumatic events. neurophysiological changes and their impairment can often be documented even after mild head-brain traumas. Current technological developments already allow differentiated assessment of neuro-ophthalmological functions by eye tracking coupled with the simulation of virtual reality (VR glasses).
Therefore, the aim of this study is to test the reliability of neuro-ophthalmological diagnostics and to investigate possible effects of repetitive headers on neuro-ophthalmological functions in football players.
