A new study presented at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, taking place this week in Chicago, suggests a potential link between soccer players' headbutting of the ball and measurable declines in microstructures and brain function. The study, led by Professor Michael Lipton, a professor of radiology at Columbia University's Vagelos School of Physicians and Surgeons, delves into concern about long-term negative brain effects of headbutting at football games. Here is a summary of the conclusions, summarized for us by ChatGPT:
The study included 148 young amateur soccer players, 26% of whom were women, with an average age of 27. Unlike previous studies that looked at brain changes associated with hitting a ball at a working point in time, this study evaluated brain changes for two years. Participants were categorized based on how many shots they threw – low, medium, or high.
The results showed that the high number of headbutts (over 1,500 bites in two years) showed changes in brain structure, similar to those seen in minor traumatic brain injuries. These changes included an increase in diffusivity in the 'white matter' areas at the front of the brain and a decrease in the orientation dispersion index, which is used to measure 'order' in the brain. In addition, a high amount of tackling was associated with decreased verbal learning performance.
The study highlights the potential long-term impact of head injuries that are not defined as concussions, and sheds light on changes in brain structure over a prolonged period. Professor Lipton said: "These findings add to the ongoing conversation and controversial debate over whether headbutting in football is a minor matter or a significant risk factor."
In a related study, researchers used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the association between repeated head injuries from headbutting in soccer and verbal learning performance. This study found that the generally sharp interface between gray matter and white matter was blunted by high exposure to repeated head injuries. Professor Lipton stressed that this approach has the potential to reveal the extent of injury due to repeated headbutting, concussion and traumatic brain injury.
A third study published last month by Johns Hopkins University, posted on the university's website this week, showed that former NFL players exhibit high levels of repair protein in their brains, long after experiencing traumatic brain injuries such as concussions. Research suggests that brain injury and repair processes continue for years after players retire, leading to long-term cognitive problems, such as memory loss.
Dr. Jennifer Coughlin, lead author of the study, notes that the presence of high levels of TSPO up to 17 years after injury indicates that the brain remains in a state of injury and repair long after the traumatic event. The study compared brain scans of 27 former NFL players to those of 27 swimmers who do not experience head injuries in their sport, and found that former NFL players performed worse on learning and memory tests. In addition, TSPO levels in former NFL athletes were higher, especially in brain regions related to memory and attention.
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us