Source : Perth Now news
Heading a football just once may be enough to trigger warning signs linked to brain damage, scientists have revealed.
Researchers found amateur footballers who headed the ball during matches showed temporary rises in blood proteins associated with brain injury and dementia.
The worrying findings have reignited concerns over the long-term impact of repeatedly heading the ball.
Experts from Amsterdam UMC monitored more than 302 amateur players across 11 matches, collecting blood samples before and after games while using video footage to track exactly how often players headed the ball.
Those who headed the ball showed higher levels of two key biomarkers, p-tau217 and S100B, compared with players who avoided headers.
P-tau217 is linked to the hallmark brain changes seen in Alzheimer’s disease and can predict cognitive decline years before symptoms emerge.
S100B, meanwhile, is used to track brain tissue distress, neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.
Players who headed the ball more frequently, or from longer distances such as goalkeeper kicks, showed the biggest changes.
Scientists stressed that while the biomarkers returned to normal within one to two days, the findings should not be dismissed.
Lead author Jort Vijverberg said: “We don’t know what this study says about permanent damage to the brain.
“We’re essentially looking at ‘dust clouds’ of damage. When the dust settles, that doesn’t mean the damage has disappeared.
“These acute effects could lead to long-term damage if they occur repeatedly.
“Whether this contributes to dementia remains uncertain, but the findings are important for shaping future policies on heading in soccer.”
Concerns over football and brain health have grown in recent years, with studies linking the sport to a greater risk of conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Defenders are believed to face the greatest danger because they typically head the ball more often.
Dr Peter Theobald, reader in biomedical engineering at Cardiff University, said the research added to growing concerns.
He said: “This study adds to the emerging evidence that even modest head impacts elicit a negative response from brain tissue.
“Even a small number of headers were found to correlate with a change in blood markers immediately post-match and again with 48-hours post-match. This would indicate that heading is causing some brain trauma.”
