The Association Between Age of First Exposure to American Football at a Young Age and Later-Life Health Issues in Healthy, Community-Dwelling Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Younger age of first exposure (AFE) to American Football (football) is associated with later-life health problems among former professional athletes in several studies; however, studies examining amateur (i.e., nonprofessional) athletes are less clear.

Objective

In a cohort of former amateur American Football players, this study assessed whether AFE to football was associated with: (1) psychiatric and neurobehavioral symptoms, (2) cognitive difficulties, (3) general health problems, (4) motor symptoms, and (5) functional status.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using the ResearchMatch platform. The key independent variable was age of first exposure to football (AFE < 12 versus AFE ≥ 12). Main outcomes included depressive symptoms (Pati

SUBMITTER: Rigney GH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12513914 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature