Emerging findings utilizing diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) suggest that consistently heading a soccer ball could lead to notable brain abnormalities. The latest study, set to be revealed at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference, scrutinized data from 380 healthy adult soccer players and compared it to 82 athletes engaged in non-collision sports. The ages of participants ranged from 18 to 53 for soccer players, and 18 to 50 for non-collision sport athletes.
The research team focused on repetitive head impacts (RHI) and their correlation with specific dMRI measurements. Those in the highest quartile of RHI showed distinct brain changes, notably in terms of lower fractional anisotropy (FA), higher radial diffusivity (RD), and an increased orientation dispersion index (ODI). These metrics were notably altered in key regions such as the frontal lobe, orbitofrontal cortex, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe.
Of particular interest, the majority of the soccer players involved in the study had no prior history of concussion or traumatic brain injury. Michael L. Lipton, a lead author of the study and a radiology professor at Columbia University Irvine Medical Center, highlighted that the research unearthed structural abnormalities in the brain due to repeated head impacts in otherwise healthy athletes. Crucially, these abnormalities occur in areas commonly associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which could influence future cognitive functions and the ability to learn new tasks.
In-depth analysis revealed that these RHI-related microstructural injuries were most pronounced in the depths of brain sulci and the juxtacortical white matter (jWM). The researchers pointed out that changes in jWM and ODI in the orbitofrontal cortex partly mediated the link between frequent RHI and poorer verbal learning capabilities. Dr. Lipton elaborated that these white matter changes might explain how heading the ball could result in diminished cognitive abilities.
This research marks a significant step in understanding the potential consequences of frequent headers on brain health. It underscores a vital connection between sports-related head impacts and structural brain changes, shedding light on the mechanisms that may underlie cognitive performance declines in athletes. The study results will be showcased from December 1-5, 2024, at the RSNA’s 110th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting.
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