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Sad to learn this morning that Trevor Whymark’s family have announced that he’s been has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-65336965

We certainly seem to have more than our fair share of former players being struck down with serious illnesses recently or even worse their early passing as with David Johnson and Paul Mariner.

Thinking of these guys who gave us so many years of great entertainment and wishing Trevor well.

Saw this mentioned somewhere the other day. Such sad news, what a underrated player Trevor was and wishing him all the best in his fight against this terrible disease.

I think this is yet more irrefutable evidence that sportsmen who receive consistent impact to the head, end up getting brain injury in later years.
Really sad, when think this has probably come about all in the name of sport.

Thinking of you Trevor and your family.

Sad news, awful disease. The thing is Liz there are thousands of people who get it that have never headed a ball, I'm not convinced it has any relevance, could be wrong as maybe it enhances the chances, either way its a vile condition for sure.

Thinking of Trevor and his family.

Oh, it’s definitely multi factorial in terms of suspected causes. But head injury is definitely now being added / linked …. I think research into it amongst sportsmen found those players playing in positions where there’s a higher proportion of heading the ball ( defenders, strikers) as opposed to players playing in midfield positions. Research is ongoing, and it’s a disease process, that if a cure could be found or even better diagnostic tools ( to catch it earlier) and treatment interventions be developed, the impact on the social care burden could be reduced. It’s a massive social problem in terms of cost and care for people and family support, as well a devastating thing to happen in your family. It’s affecting more and more families now as we live longer. Not sure how old TW is, but I think most people diagnosed with it have probably had the disease a good few years (5-7yrs?) before it’s recognised.


https://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q= ... Nmm6LYKPAJ

Known relatives that succumbed to it so aware of the condition from own experience. A nasty dementia variant that ruins lives of not just the individuals afflicted but families also. You could associate it with senior age but that's not the whole way it works.

i wish Whymark every success in his battle and chance of recovery. It's real pity after learning of the Marcus Stewart MND story what seems so recent before. Real fine individuals that don't deserve such setback. We'll be thinking of them, wishing every encouragement, hope of success et cetera.

Bluemike wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 21, 2023 10:12 am

Sad news, awful disease. The thing is Liz there are thousands of people who get it that have never headed a ball, I'm not convinced it has any relevance, could be wrong as maybe it enhances the chances, either way its a vile condition for sure.

Thinking of Trevor and his family.

Big study done by Glasgow University on the link between heading a ball and dementia
https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/avenue/wo ... heredcard/
Dr Stewart has done a lot of pioneering work in this area. In Scotland teams can only do heading the ball work once a week now.

Its a huge issue in rugby. Some of the brain injuries/ dementia coming through from rugby league are catastrophic.
So there definitely is a link.

As you say though there is a lot of folks who have dementia who have not played any contact sport so its multi factor