Retired overweight NFL players might have more cognitive problems

Retired football players who are overweight could be at greater risk for cognitive problems compared to normal-weight former players, a study finds.

Football players might have the health deck stacked against them in other ways, since they’re also at risk for brain injury from concussions. Add obesity into the mix and it may up the ante even more. Other studies have shown a link between obesity and cognitive impairment.

Researchers analyzed data in two groups: 38 retired NFL players who were at a healthy weight and 38 retired players who were overweight. In both groups the average age of the players was 58.

All study participants were given a series of neuropsychological exams that measured such things as information processing speed, reasoning, reaction time and general cognitive function. They were also given tests that measured blood flow in the brain to see if certain areas were not getting enough blood.

The overweight players had substantially more reductions in blood flow in the prefrontal cortex and the temporal pole compared to normal-weight players. Those areas affect reasoning, executive function, emotion, behavior and attention. Those who were overweight also did more poorly on the neuropsychological exams compared to their normal-weight peers.

“In addition to the obvious risk factors from playing contact sports,” the authors wrote, “the additive impact of having excess body mass increases the propensity for further metabolic and neurological complications.”

They added that the combination of higher incidence of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors among former NFL players suggest there could be long-lasting effects on brain health, including complications from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a neurological condition that can cause brain degeneration as well as symptoms such as anxiety, slow reaction time, depression, aggression, loss of memory and confusion.

Athletes’ health might benefit, the authors added, through education about how to manage their weight.

The study was published online Tuesday in the journal Translational Psychiatry.