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Link Between Professional Italian Soccer and Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS)
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease is an incurable and degenerative disease that attacks the nervous system. ALS is one of the most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide and affects all people regardless of race, gender, or ethnic background. It affects one in two people per 100,000 yearly. ALS most commonly affects people between the ages of 40 and 60 years and on average men are slightly more affected than women. The onset of ALS has been linked to several factors which include virus, exposure to neurotoxins or heavy metals, DNA defects, immune system abnormalities, and enzyme flaws. It has been determined that Italian soccer players die of ALS at a rate of almost 12x than normal.
Dr. Chio, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Turin was inspired by the work conducted by Raffaele Guariniello who investigated soccer player’s use of illegal drugs. Chio’s study included native Italian male professional soccer players who were on the team roster from 1970-2002 and played in at least one official match. 18 cases of ALS were found (3 cases were excluded because they were not Italian and 10 cases were excluded because they were before 1970) Researchers interviewed all living players with ALS and gathered family histories paying close attention to neuromuscular disorders. Specific questions were asked and include things like, soccer activity and which position he played and the teams he played for, major physical traumas and drug use. This study concluded that none of the players were affected by the inherited type of ALS. Rather, all of the players were affected by the “sporadic” type.
Chio suggests several explanations. The first, ALS is related to heavy physical exercise; therefore, it is not particularly related to soccer. However, this explanation has been proven to be untrue. Soccer players were compared to other athletes including basketball players, and cyclists to determine if ALS was present in other athletic populations. No cases of ALS were identified in basketball players or cyclists. The second explanation involves trauma, particularly head trauma involved in heading the ball or repeated traumas involving the legs. The third includes legal or illegal drugs. Lastly, the forth explanation is concerned with environmental toxins, including things like fertilizers or herbicides used on the soccer fields. Any one of these or any combination may be the cause of ALS; however, researchers are uncertain of the cause. What scientists are certain about is, is that there is a correlation between professional soccer players and the rate of generating ALS.
Written by Shannon Coleman
Florence News - b0.07.19.17.38
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