Brain health in Norwegian female former top-level football players: a protocol for a longitudinal cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Repetitive head impacts (RHI) in sports may represent a risk factor for long-term cognitive and neurological sequelae. Recent studies have identified an association between playing football at the top level and an elevated risk of cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative disease. However, these were conducted on men, and there is a knowledge gap regarding these risks in female athletes. This study aims to investigate the effect of head impacts on brain health in female former top-level football players.

Methods and analysis

This is a prospective cohort study, enroling female former football players and top-level athletes from sports without an inherent risk of RHI. All participants are born in 1980 or earlier. We plan to perform follow-up assessments at least

SUBMITTER: Dahlen SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11751818 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature