[BostonCard]

I think the coincidence of several players on the same NFL team subsequently developing ALS has been mentioned at least once before on this board (Phogge?). Anyways, a recent study confirms that NFL players are four times as likely to develop ALS than similarly aged males in the general US population.  Overall, 38 former NFL players developed ALS (out of a total of 19,423 athletes who played between 1960 and 2019).

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanet...le/2787180

BC

[BostonCard]

I think the coincidence of several players on the same NFL team subsequently developing ALS has been mentioned at least once before on this board (Phogge?). Anyways, a recent study confirms that NFL players are four times as likely to develop ALS than similarly aged males in the general US population.  Overall, 38 former NFL players developed ALS (out of a total of 19,423 athletes who played between 1960 and 2019).

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanet...le/2787180

BC

[Phogge]

49ers of the early Sixties: Gary Lewis, Matt Hazeltine, Bobby Waters. All trained at the St. Mary’s camp preseason.

[Phogge]

49ers of the early Sixties: Gary Lewis, Matt Hazeltine, Bobby Waters. All trained at the St. Mary’s camp preseason.

[82lsju]

49ers of the early Sixties: Gary Lewis, Matt Hazeltine, Bobby Waters. All trained at the St. Mary’s camp preseason.

more here

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/...9ers-1960s

[82lsju]

49ers of the early Sixties: Gary Lewis, Matt Hazeltine, Bobby Waters. All trained at the St. Mary’s camp preseason.

more here

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/...9ers-1960s

[teejers1]

49ers of the early Sixties: Gary Lewis, Matt Hazeltine, Bobby Waters. All trained at the St. Mary’s camp preseason.

more here

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/...9ers-1960s

The link states Hazeltine played for Cal.  I thought I'd seen that name on a Cal jersey more recently.  Any chance the son also played ball at Cal?

[teejers1]

49ers of the early Sixties: Gary Lewis, Matt Hazeltine, Bobby Waters. All trained at the St. Mary’s camp preseason.

more here

https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/49ers/...9ers-1960s

The link states Hazeltine played for Cal.  I thought I'd seen that name on a Cal jersey more recently.  Any chance the son also played ball at Cal?

[lex24]

BC, are there medical studies linking ALS to head injuries?

[lex24]

BC, are there medical studies linking ALS to head injuries?

[baycommuter]

The most famous ALS patient, Lou Gehrig, played football at Columbia.

[baycommuter]

The most famous ALS patient, Lou Gehrig, played football at Columbia.

[oldalum]

A recent meta-analysis of studies of the association of head injury to ALS is here. Remember that association does not prove causation.
The authors' conclusion is: "This meta-analysis indicates that head injury, especially severe head injury, could increase ALS risk."
Interestingly, the strongest association was with head injury less than one year of a diagnosis of ALS, which suggests reverse causation: incipient developing ALS is a strong risk factor for head injury (makes sense).

[oldalum]

A recent meta-analysis of studies of the association of head injury to ALS is here. Remember that association does not prove causation.
The authors' conclusion is: "This meta-analysis indicates that head injury, especially severe head injury, could increase ALS risk."
Interestingly, the strongest association was with head injury less than one year of a diagnosis of ALS, which suggests reverse causation: incipient developing ALS is a strong risk factor for head injury (makes sense).