Soccer heading linked to unexpected brain damage, study finds
Playing soccer, particularly involving passing and receiving with the head, known as heading, may cause greater brain damage than previously thought, according to American scientists. They studied soccer players who had not experienced concussions or strokes. The results clearly indicate potential disorders.
Playing soccer, especially using the heading technique, may cause greater brain damage than previously thought, as revealed at the Radiological Society of North America conference. The Polish Press Agency reported these findings.
"Heading" is a technique widely used by soccer players. In recent years, more studies have suggested a link between it and neurodegenerative diseases, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Many historical goals were scored this way by Robert Lewandowski, Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and many other famous players.
Repeated head impacts in sports may have far-reaching effects beyond what was once understood. Dr. Michael Lipton, a researcher from Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York and co-author of the study, highlighted concerns about the long-term consequences of such activities, according to the Polish Press Agency.
To determine how repeated head impacts affect the brain, scientists compared MRI scans of the brains of 352 amateur soccer players aged 18 to 53 with MRI images of 77 athletes engaged in non-collision sports, such as running. They found that soccer players who used the heading technique had abnormalities in the brain's white matter, particularly in the frontal lobe, associated with poorer verbal learning outcomes.
Dr. Lipton explained that their analysis identified disruptions in white matter as the key factor behind the decline in cognitive function. Notably, most participants in the study had no history of concussions or diagnosed brain injuries. This indicates that even minor, repeated head impacts, without causing significant injuries, can negatively affect the brain and influence future cognitive abilities.
Scientists believe that their research results can be applied to other contact sports where there are repeated, even very minor, head injuries. According to Dr. Lipton, identifying the risk may contribute to increasing the safety of athletes. The next phase of research is underway; scientists will examine protective factors that could mitigate the negative effects of heading.
