Soccer Heading May Cause More Brain Damage Than Previously Thought
New Study Reveals Alarming Findings
Researchers from the Radiological Society of North America have conducted a study that suggests soccer heading may cause more brain damage than previously thought. The study examined the links between headbutting the ball and neurodegenerative diseases such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Brain Damage in Soccer Players
The study found that soccer players who headed the ball at higher levels exhibited abnormality of the brain’s white matter, a region of the brain where aberrations indicate severe traumatic brain injuries. The researchers said most of the damage was found in the frontal lobe of the brain, beneath the part of the skull soccer players are taught to use to head the ball.
White Matter Abnormalities
The study analyzed MRIs from over 400 people and discerned that those who played soccer had higher levels of white matter brain damage. The study claims that noggin knockers cause damage to the white matter near the sulci, which are grooves in the brain’s cerebral cortex.
Implications for Cognitive Function
"Our analysis showed that the white matter abnormalities represent a mechanism by which heading leads to worse cognitive performance," said Dr. Michale Lipton, professor of radiology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. "The abnormalities occur in the locations most characteristic of CTE, are associated with worse ability to learn a cognitive task and could affect function in the future."
No Concussions Required
Most of the over 400 volunteer amateur soccer players and other athletes used for the study had never sustained a concussion or been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. The damage caused by heading the soccer ball was left in similar parts of the brain that are affected by CTE.
Long-Term Effects
Head-bops that don’t cause immediate traumatic injury can still affect the brain in the long run, according to the researchers. Previous studies have confirmed that headers have caused injuries to the white matter in soccer players’ brains. This new study utilized an approach using diffusion MRI technology to analyze the microstructure close to the surface of the brain and draw the new conclusions.
Conclusion
The study suggests that repeated head impacts in sport, such as soccer, may have a more extensive impact on the brain than previously thought. The damage caused by heading the soccer ball may be more extensive than previously thought, affecting areas of the brain similar to those affected by CTE.
FAQs
Q: What did the study find?
A: The study found that soccer players who headed the ball at higher levels exhibited abnormality of the brain’s white matter, a region of the brain where aberrations indicate severe traumatic brain injuries.
Q: Where did the damage occur in the brain?
A: The damage occurred in the frontal lobe of the brain, beneath the part of the skull soccer players are taught to use to head the ball.
Q: Did the study participants have any prior brain injuries?
A: Most of the over 400 volunteer amateur soccer players and other athletes used for the study had never sustained a concussion or been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury.
Q: What are the implications for cognitive function?
A: The study found that the white matter abnormalities represent a mechanism by which heading leads to worse cognitive performance, and could affect function in the future.
