Former professional footballers are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression and show subtle changes in brain structure, according to new research led by Imperial College London.
The study compared 142 retired professional footballers aged 30 to 60 with adults of a similar age who had no history of contact sports, military service or significant head injuries. Researchers found that although the former players reported more problems with memory, concentration and decision-making, they performed similarly to the control group in standard tests of memory and thinking.
MRI scans, however, revealed differences in grey matter volume in areas of the brain associated with memory and emotional processing. The retired footballers were also significantly more likely to meet the threshold for clinical anxiety and depression than those in the comparison group.
Caleigh Grace Lynch, lead researcher at Imperial College London, said: "Although there were not clear differences between ex-players and non-players in standard cognitive tests, we did see significant differences in symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) reported by participants, as well as in brain imaging."
The researchers stressed that the findings do not mean the former players are developing dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Only a small number of participants showed brain changes associated with ongoing neurodegeneration, and the team says longer-term follow-up is needed to understand whether the structural differences are linked to future neurological disease.
The study is part of an ongoing programme investigating the long-term effects of repeated head impacts in football, with researchers hoping the findings will help identify ways to better protect players' brain health throughout their careers.
For more information, read the original Imperial College London article: Retired professional footballers had changes in brain structure and more mental health symptoms
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