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Soccer players

Soccer Headers Linked to Brain Changes in Amateur Players

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study published in Neurology(R) has found that amateur soccer players who participate in more frequent heading, or using the head to control or pass the ball, show changes within the folds of the brain. The study, led by researchers at Columbia University, involved 352 amateur soccer players and 77 athletes in non-collision sports. The findings suggest that repetitive head impacts from contact sports like soccer may offset the potential cognitive benefits associated with participating in sports.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found an association between frequent heading and changes within the folds of the brain, specifically in the juxtacortical white matter layer.
  • Athletes who experienced more impacts from headers had more disruptions within the folds of the brain, which were linked to poorer performance on thinking and memory tests.
  • The study found that the number of headers per year was inversely related to the organization of water molecule movement in the folds of the brain, indicating worsening of the brain's microstructure.
  • The research team discovered that disruptions in the folds of the orbitofrontal brain region, just above the eye sockets, partially affected the relationship between repeated head impacts and thinking and memory performance.
  • The study was limited by the fact that the number of headers over the previous year was estimated based on athlete responses and may be influenced by their ability to remember this information accurately.
  • The study was supported by the Dana Foundation David Mahoney Neuroimaging Program and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Statistics:

  • 352 amateur soccer players participated in the study, with an average age of 26.
  • 77 athletes in non-collision sports, with an average age of 23, were also included in the study.
  • Soccer players were divided into four groups based on their average number of headers per year, ranging from 105 to 3,152 headers.
  • Athletes spent an average of 25.5 hours per week participating in soccer.

Sources:

  • Neurology(R) - The medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, published on September 17, 2025.
  • American Academy of Neurology - https://www.aan.com/
  • Brain and Life website - https://brainandlife.org/

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