A September 2025 study from Columbia University found that amateur soccer players who frequently headed the ball showed microstructural brain changes and poorer cognitive performance, even if they had not been concussed. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, used advanced MRI techniques to detect brain damage.
Key findings from the study include:
- Damage to the gray-white matter interface: The researchers developed a new imaging method to examine the junction between the brain’s gray and white matter, an area previously difficult to study and thought to be vulnerable to head impacts. The study found that in players who headed the ball more often, this transition zone was “fuzzier” compared to non-contact athletes.
- Location of injury: The most significant changes were found in the orbitofrontal cortex, an area behind the forehead that is crucial for memory and other cognitive functions. Researchers believe the damage may be a result of a “contrecoup force,” or bruising on the opposite side of the initial impact.
- Cognitive effects: Players who headed the ball most frequently performed worse on verbal learning and memory tests. The findings suggest that the microstructural damage in the brain may be the cause of these cognitive deficits.
- Significance for CTE: The researchers noted that the location of the abnormalities is similar to the pathology of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). While they did not establish a direct link, the study allows for earlier detection of injury and further investigation into whether repetitive heading increases the risk for neurodegenerative diseases like CTE.
- Effects of frequent heading: Players who reported more than 1,000 headers annually showed the most significant signs of damage. The authors stressed that they could not yet identify a “safe” threshold for heading frequency.
