Sir Geoff Hurst said he supports a ban on children heading footballs in the wake of sweeping dementia diagnoses and deaths among his 1966 World Cup-winning teammates.
Sir Bobby Charlton, his brother Jack, Ray Wilson, Martin Peters and Nobby Stiles have all been diagnosed with the disease, and Jack Charlton, Wilson, Peters and Stiles all died over the last two-and-a-half years.
Former England and West Brom striker Jeff Astle died in 2002 aged 59 because of repeated trauma from heading footballs, described by a coroner as an "industrial injury".
Findings contained in the FIELD study - which was funded jointly by the FA and Professional Footballers' Association - published last year found footballers were at a significantly heightened risk of developing a range of neurodegenerative diseases compared to the general population.
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"At West Ham we had a ball hanging from the ceiling in the gym and we could spend half an hour to 45 minutes heading the ball," Sir Geoff told Sky News.
"We played head tennis and then you would go onto the pitch where you practice crosses which you head defensively or offensively. You could spend half an hour to 45 minutes there.
"In many of the games I played, I hardly headed the ball, so it's practice I think that is becoming a certain issue.
"The other area we have got to look at is 10-year-old, 11-year-old kids heading the ball when their brains are nowhere near as formed as adults.
"Stopping that wouldn't detract from the enjoyment of grassroots football for kids and parents watching their kids play football.
"That's another area I think, with their brains not being developed, we've got to look at kids of that age not heading the ball at all."
Hurst also believes heading should be banned from training sessions, including for professionals.
"The danger for me is the amount of times you head the ball in practice and not in a game," he told the Daily Telegraph.
"Going back, I wouldn't do the practice. I would cut that out tomorrow. No practice on heading and we just play the game. No practice at all."
Sir Geoff has also said he would "absolutely" be willing to donate his brain to dementia research after his death.
His comments come as the FA said it holds a "clear and unwavering commitment" to battle dementia after the family of Stiles hit out at a failure to "address the scandal" of the illness in the game.
Stiles' funeral and cremation took place in Manchester last week.
The FA maintains more collaboration is needed across football's governing bodies to help better understand the issue.
Meanwhile, current England manager Gareth Southgate has stressed the importance of continuing research into the issue. Asked if heading could be banned in the future, he replied: "Who knows what the future might hold?
"I think it is important, with children's football especially, we are careful when that [heading] is introduced and the neck muscles have to be strong enough.
"We don't want any risks taken and there will be ongoing research I am sure - the frustration for everybody is that it isn't quite clear at the moment so we have to keep investigating.
"I think in terms of what is happening research is continuing and I know that the initial study threw up certain observations and there is a desire to look at the groups who have played in the past and get a better understanding of what the initial studies threw up."
PFA and PFA Charity look to offer more 'holistic' support
The Professional Footballers' Association and the PFA Charity announced they were developing a Neurodegenerative Disease Working Group (NDWG) "to help define the union and charity's future support provisions for former footballers with neurodegenerative conditions".
"Previously our support has predominantly been based on financial assistance and advice," a statement read. "Now, with the guidance of our working group, we want to ensure a more holistic support system is available for former footballers and their families.
"By establishing this advisory group, we hope to give the people most affected a strong voice in how the PFA supports former players and seeks to protect current players."
The PFA said it was already part of a research task force looking at the possible link between football and dementia, and that the main purpose of the new working group was to look at ways to better support and protect former and current players.
It said the group members were not yet confirmed.
Jack Harrison: Players need to be protected from early age
Leeds winger Jack Harrison has told Sky Sports News it is important to protect the health and safety of players from a young age.
"Only recently with the new discoveries about concussions and leading onto dementia as well I think it's important to protect the safety and the health of players and if that starts at a young age then I think it's important to get control of it then," he said.
"So I think we just need to listen to the authorities and the people higher up that can have more educated suggestions towards that and I think us as players have to listen to that."