What repeated blows to the head in sport may mean for dementia risk

England rugby players Tom Curry and Manu Tuilagi accidentally collide during a World Cup match against South Africa in Paris, October 2023. Victor Velter/Shutterstock There is now widespread evidence that years of heading, tackling and collisions in football and rugby could increase the risk of dementia and other neurological diseases. The latest – preliminary research presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in July 2026 – examined 142 former professional footballers…