The Premier League has written to all 20 clubs to notify them it is considering what action needs to be taken following the publication of a landmark report confirming the link between dementia and football.

There is a growing demand, in the wake of the research published last week, for a ban on heading for children. So far it has been resisted but, if agreed, it would have to be implemented at Premier League academies.

Bournemouth have already taken the matter into their own hands and stopped heading for the youngest players in their academy, while the Scottish Football Association is considering reducing heading in youth football.

Although there is a debate over which age groups should be covered, including whether it should go up to under-18s, there is a sense that a ban could quickly be implemented for children up to the age of 12.

The Premier League emailed the 20 clubs soon after the publication of the report to inform them it was examining the evidence and will make recommendations. It appears it will focus specifically on whether children should continue to be allowed to head a ball.

A recent study has unveiled a direct link between heading a football and dementia credit: DIGITAL VISION

The report, which followed an 18-month study by the Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group, will be discussed at the next Premier League shareholders’ meeting, which will be attended by all the clubs, on November 14.

The study followed the successful Daily Telegraph campaign for research into the prevalence of dementia and other serious neurological diseases among players. It found there was a five-fold increase in the risk of Alzheimer’s, a four-fold increase in motor neurone disease and a two-fold increase in Parkinson’s.

The work has led to promises of further research, but there have been widespread calls for immediate action. Bennet Omalu, the doctor credited with uncovering brain disease among NFL players, believes that children under the age of 18 should not be heading a football.

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Dr Willie Stewart, who led the Glasgow research, said: “If they are barely heading the ball at under-12s, why bother at all?” when asked last week by Telegraph Sport about children’s heading.

The FA has set up a task force, which will include Dr Stewart and Dawn Astle, the daughter of former England striker Jeff Astle, to advise on next steps, but has so far resisted calls for a ban on heading.

A Premier League statement, said: “We welcome this important report and thank the FA and PFA for taking this vital area of work forward on behalf of the game.

“There is a substantial amount of information in the study and we will now examine the results carefully and work with The FA in considering next steps, including the necessary further research identified in the report. We will discuss the study with our clubs at the earliest opportunity.”