Watan-A new study by a team of Australian researchers has shown that heading a football causes changes in the brain—even when no immediate cognitive symptoms appear.
Published in the journal Sports Medicine – Open, the findings indicate that these changes involve chemical shifts in brain regions responsible for motor control and a reduction in electrical conductivity across multiple areas of the brain.
This is the first randomized controlled trial to assess the impact of heading the ball on football players using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). According to the study, headers affect how the brain uses energy, its metabolic demands, and how information is transmitted through the brain’s white matter (the neural fibers connecting different brain areas).
Blood samples from participants also showed elevated levels of two proteins: GFAP and NFL. These are among the best-known blood-based biomarkers for brain injury and are linked to increased risk of developing dementia.
Lead researcher Dr. Nathan Dilang from the University of Queensland commented:“We conclude from the elevated protein levels—and from the study in general—that heading the ball can cause minor damage to brain cells, even without noticeable symptoms in the players.”
He added:“These elevated biomarker levels point to microscopic disruptions in brain cells. The clinical and long-term significance of these slight increases is still under investigation, especially regarding the extent and pattern of exposure that may affect brain structure and function.”
Brain Effects and Caution Ahead
The results of this first-of-its-kind study add to growing evidence that heading the ball in football—the world’s most popular sport—can affect brain health, even in the absence of concussions.
The team conducted brain assessments on 15 adult football players shortly after each of them headed the ball 20 times within a few minutes. Using cutting-edge MRI techniques at Australia’s NeuRA neuroscience research center, researchers identified changes in brain structure, function, and chemistry. Blood tests and cognitive function assessments were also performed.
The researchers emphasize the need for further study into the long-term consequences of routine heading, particularly amid growing concerns about dementia among retired professional footballers.
These findings also open the door for future preventive interventions, including dietary protocols and specific medical treatments.
Co-author Dr. Danielle McCartney from the University of Sydney stated:“These results show that even routine heading—without symptoms—can cause subtle brain changes.”
She added,“The next step is to determine whether these changes accumulate over time and what that means for long-term brain health.” She emphasized that footballers should be cautious and consider whether repeated heading, especially during training, is truly necessary.
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