Attention Parents: Don't let your kids play THIS sports before they turn 12!

When it comes to taking care of their children, parents do not leave any stone unturned. They make sure they eat well, sleep well and engage in good physical activities for their overall health.
But have you ever given a thought to the risks involved while your kids go off to play? No, we do not mean the risks of any freak accident, we mean the actual involvement in the sports that may pose a serious threat to your child's brain?
Confused? Let us enlighten you
As you already know, certain sports games are riskier to play as compared to others. As per the findings from a long-term study--conducted by researchers at Boston University--playing tackle football before the age of 12 doubles the risk of behavioural and cognitive issues.
SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED?
This shocking finding--which may prevent you from sending your kids to play football--was the result of a new study conducted on 214 former athletes.
The researchers found that players who started playing before the age of 12 had a twofold risk of problems related to behavioural regulation and a threefold risk of clinically elevated depression scores.
WHY DOES IT HAPPEN?
According to one of the authors of the research study--published in the journal Nature’s Translational Psychiatry--Robert Stern, "The brain is going through this incredible time of growth between the years of 10 and 12, and if you subject that developing brain to repetitive head impacts, it may cause problems later in life."
SO NO MORE FOOTBALL?
The eye-opening research also focuses on the fact that the football game retirees who started playing before the age of 12 had decreased mental flexibility when compared to those who began playing when they were 12 or older.
The bottom line is since the human brain rapidly develops during childhood, it is best that your children should avoid playing tackle football at least during their teenage years.
There are plenty of other sports available like basketball and running if you are worried about your child's physical fitness.