An interesting article about Dr. Chio, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Turin, and his study of ALS in soccer players in Italy. It was published in The Florence Newspaper written by Shannon Coleman.

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.

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Could there be a link with environmental toxins, head trauma or drug use? Who knows, but at least there is something to look into.