ArticleRadiology2013
Soccer heading is associated with white matter microstructural and cognitive abnormalities.
Article in Radiology, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 154 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
154 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Brain MRI findings associated with soccer heading: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neuroradiology · 2026Pooled it
- Risk of Cognitive Decline in Professional Soccer Players after Repetitive Subconcussive Impacts: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Neurologia medico-chirurgica · 2026Pooled it
- Diffusion Imaging of Sport-related Repetitive Head Impacts-A Systematic Review.Neuropsychology review · 2023Pooled it
- Systematic Review of the Long-Term Neuroimaging Correlates of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Repetitive Head Injuries.Frontiers in neurology · 2021Pooled it
- Advanced biomarkers of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: Progress and perils.Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews · 2018Pooled it
- A systematic review of potential long-term effects of sport-related concussion.British journal of sports medicine · 2017Pooled it
- Effects of purposeful soccer heading on circulating small extracellular vesicle concentration and cargo.Journal of sport and health science · 2021Trial
- Neuro-Ophthalmologic Response to Repetitive Subconcussive Head Impacts: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA ophthalmology · 2020Trial
- Does acute soccer heading cause an increase in plasma S100B? A randomized controlled trial.PloS one · 2020Trial
- Mild Jugular Compression Collar Ameliorated Changes in Brain Activation of Working Memory after One Soccer Season in Female High School Athletes.Journal of neurotrauma · 2018Trial
- Article
- Cognitive and Behavioral Functioning in Female Former Soccer Players: Results from the Head Impact and Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS).Brain sciences · 2026Article
- Position-dependent white matter microstructural differences in amateur soccer players: a multi-shell diffusion MRI study.Neuroradiology · 2026Observational
- Repeated head impacts establish a senescent cranial bone marrow niche that impairs brain metabolism.Journal of neuroinflammation · 2026Article
- Non-concussive impacts, cognition, and the menstrual cycle: a proof-of-concept study of elite female footballers.Experimental brain research · 2026Article
- Soccer heading and white matter microstructural changes: a two-year longitudinal cohort study.Brain imaging and behavior · 2026Article
- Article
- Repeated Mild Head Injury Establishes a Senescent Cranial Bone Marrow Niche that Impairs Brain Metabolism.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026Article
- Concussion and Head Injuries in Soccer: Research Trends, Knowledge Structure, and Emerging Themes.Orthopedic reviews · 2026Article
- Soccer Heading Exposure-Dependent Microstructural Injury at Depths of Sulci in Adult Amateur Players.Neurology · 2025Article
94 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeTo investigate the association of soccer heading with subclinical evidence of traumatic brain injury. MATERIALS AND
methodsWith institutional review board approval and compliance with HIPAA guidelines, 37 amateur soccer players (mean age, 30.9 years; 78% [29] men, 22% [eight] women) gave written informed consent and completed a questionnaire to quantify heading in the prior 12 months and lifetime concussions. Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3.0 T was performed (32 directions; b value, 800 sec/mm(2); 2 × 2 × 2-mm voxels). Cognitive function was measured by using a computerized battery of tests. Voxelwise linear regression (heading vs fractional anisotropy [FA]) was applied to identify significant regional associations. FA at each location and cognition were tested for a nonlinear relationship to heading by using an inverse logit model that incorporated demographic covariates and history of concussion.
resultsParticipants had headed 32-5400 times (median, 432 times) over the previous year. Heading was associated with lower FA at three locations in temporo-occipital white matter with a threshold that varied according to location (885-1550 headings per year) (P < .00001). Lower levels of FA were also associated with poorer memory scores (P < .00001), with a threshold of 1800 headings per year. Lifetime concussion history and demographic features were not significantly associated with either FA or cognitive performance.
conclusionHeading is associated with abnormal white matter microstructure and with poorer neurocognitive performance. This relationship is not explained by a history of concussion.
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