Heading a football once raises brain damage proteins
Heading a football just once may be enough to trigger warning signs linked to brain damage, scientists have found.
Researchers found that amateur football players who headed the ball during matches showed temporary increases in blood proteins associated with brain damage and dementia.
The worrying findings have reignited concerns about the long-term impact of repeatedly heading the ball.
Amsterdam UMC experts tracked more than 302 amateur players across 11 matches, collecting blood samples before and after matches and using video footage to track exactly how often players headed the ball.
Players who headed the ball showed higher levels of two important biomarkers, p-tau217 and S100B, compared to players who avoided heading.
P-tau217 is linked to distinctive brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease and may predict cognitive decline years before symptoms appear.
S100B, meanwhile, is being used to monitor brain tissue distress, neurodegeneration, and cognitive decline.
The biggest changes were seen in players heading the ball more often or playing from longer distances, such as goalkeeper kicks.
Scientists emphasized that biomarkers returned to normal within one to two days, but the findings should not be ignored.
Jort Vijverberg, lead author of the study, said: “We don’t know what this study says about permanent damage to the brain.
“We are essentially looking at the ‘dust clouds’ of the damage. When the dust settles, that does not mean the damage is gone.
“These acute effects can lead to long-term damage if they occur repeatedly.
“Whether this contributes to dementia remains unclear, but the findings are important for shaping future policy in football.”
Concerns about football and brain health have increased in recent years, with studies showing the sport is linked to greater risks of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Defenders are believed to face the greatest danger because they generally head the ball more often.
Cardiff University biomedical engineering reader Dr. Peter Theobald said the research raised growing concerns.
He said: “This study adds to emerging evidence that even mild head impacts cause a negative response in brain tissue.
“Even a small number of head shots were found to be associated with changes in blood markers immediately after the match and 48 hours post-match. This suggests that the head kick caused some brain trauma.”
