When players hit the ball with their head— can bring excitement to the game but may come at a significant cost. A new long-term study finds that heading can lead to lasting brain changes. The study included 148 amateur players, who were, on average, 27 years old.
Participants completed questionnaires about how often they played, practiced, and headed the ball. They also took verbal learning and memory tests and underwent MRI brain scans at the beginning of the study and then again two years later. The scans revealed that players who reported the most heading had measurable changes in brain microstructure, similar to what is seen in mild traumatic brain injuries. Additionally, more frequent heading was linked to a decline in verbal learning on memory tests.
The senior author of the study notes that these findings contribute to the ongoing debate about whether soccer heading is benign or poses a significant risk. He mentions growing concerns that brain changes observed in young adults could increase the risk of developing dementia later in life.
