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Alan Shearer: Dementia, Football and Me

Documentary in which former England international footballer Alan Shearer investigates the potentially devastating link between football and dementia.

Documentary in which former England international footballer Alan Shearer investigates the potentially devastating link between football and dementia. Recent scientific reports from around the world have revealed that the link between football and dementia could be a result of brain damage caused by heading the ball.

Shearer remains the Premier League's all-time top scorer, with 46 of those goals coming from headers. With recent reports of a worrying number of the England 1966 team suffering from dementia, the former Newcastle forward has a vested interest in football's potential links with brain injury.

Discussing the issue with footballing legends past and present, the former England captain also investigates the latest scientific research from Britain and turns himself over to science before taking his findings to the football authorities.

59 minutes

Last on

Wed 6 Dec 2017 03:55

Queens University Hospital Glasgow – Alan & Willie

Queens University Hospital Glasgow – Alan & Willie

Alan learnt a lot about the importance of brain donations for research from Dr Willie Stewart at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow.  Willie leads the Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group who are investigating the range of neuropathologies associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Willie told Alan that research is needed and to do research they need brains, all kinds of brains. Here he tells you why and gives information on what involved if you want to denote your brain.


Medical Research Council

Medical Research Council

The Medical Research Council (MRC) improves the health of people in the UK, and around the world, by supporting excellent science and training the very best scientists.

This web site offers extra information on locations in the UK where you can find brain banks and advice on processes.

Sporting Memories

Sporting Memories

How can I join a sporting memories group – what they do and where they are

Across the country there are scores of people aged 50 and over, battling with dementia, depression and loneliness. Each week, teams from Sporting Memories work with these people and their loved ones, stimulating and encouraging them to relive their memories through sport. They have worked with the PFA to provide an advice booklet for footballers and their families coping with a diagnosis of dementia. Alan really enjoyed his afternoon at the Sporting Memories workshop. 

Twitter

#FootballAndDementia

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Alan Shearer
Assistant Editor Josephine McCusker
Executive Producer Carl Doran

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