High-magnitude headers are not associated with structural and functional brain changes in active high-level football (soccer) players.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To date, consistent evidence for consequences of heading in football (soccer) on the structure and function of the brain is lacking, but first studies indicate a potential effect of specific high-magnitude headers. The purpose of this longitudinal, prospective study was to investigate whether potential structural and/or functional alterations within the brain were associated with (high-magnitude) heading.

Methods

3T MRI sequences were obtained from active high-level male players before and after an observation period of 17.2 months (median). Cortical thickness and grey matter (GM) volume were investigated on a whole-brain level. Functional connectivity (FC) was analysed in the default mode network (DMN) and salience network (SN). During the observation period, eac

SUBMITTER: Mund FK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12730840 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature