Martin Keown reveals his dementia fears as Arsenal legend walks 100 laps of Lord's for Alzheimer's Society after witnessing mother's ordeal

Under the watchful gaze of Old Father Time, Martin Keown takes another step around the famous Lord’s turf as he reflects on how much we can lose as the clock ticks away.

Daily Mail Sport joined the former Arsenal and England defender as they and nearly 100 others walked a century of laps around the outfield – the equivalent of more than 31 miles – to bring up their own century at Lord’s and raise money for Alzheimer’s Society.

Keown’s mother Angela has lived with Alzheimer’s for more than 20 years, and now resides in a care home. Before then, he passed up the chance to work with Arsene Wenger after his playing career to help his dad care for her.

The former Arsenal and England defender also talks as we walk, his wife Nicola alongside him, about how a career playing the sport he loves has likely robbed him of precious time with his loved ones later in life, so close is the link between dementia and heading the ball.

Keown has admitted in the past his worries about a 21-year career heading a football. Towards the end of his playing days, he got dizziness and double vision when heading one travelling at speed.

‘The game you love has kind of taken away vital time ahead of me to spend with my loved ones,’ he says. ‘It’s like a paradox, isn’t it? But I made those choices. I didn’t know the outcome that playing football would be so problematic. But I don’t regret it.’