Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40514556›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2025

Annual level changes of serum neuronal and glial biomarkers in a German professional football club.

Robert Marshall, Samir Abu-Rumeileh, Lisa Habeck, Petra Steinacker, Matteo Foschi, Kai Wohlfahrt, René Schwesig, Helge Riepenhof, Jan-Niklas Droste, Lorenzo Barba and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Robert MarshallRasenBallsport Leipzig GmbH, Cottaweg 3, 04177, Leipzig, Germany. robert.marshall@redbulls.com.
Samir Abu-RumeilehDepartment of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Lisa HabeckDepartment of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Petra SteinackerDepartment of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Matteo FoschiDepartment of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Kai WohlfahrtDepartment of Neurology, BG Hospital Bergmannstrost, Halle (Saale), Germany.
René SchwesigDepartment of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Strasse 40, 06108, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Helge RiepenhofCenter for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, BG Klinikum Hamburg, 21033, Hamburg, Germany.
Jan-Niklas DrosteCenter for Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, BG Klinikum Hamburg, 21033, Hamburg, Germany.
Lorenzo Barba *Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Markus Otto *Department of Neurology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany. markus.otto@uk-halle.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4273-4267

Funding

Baden-Württemberg Stiftung D.3830Boehringer Ingelheim Ulm University BioCenter D.5009Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung FTLDc 01GI1007ADeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB1279EU Moodmarker program 01EW2008Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg CS22/06Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg JCS24/02Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch 01ED2008A
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProfessional football players (PFP) experience repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and have an increased long-term dementia risk. We aimed to assess annual level changes of blood neuronal (neurofilament light chain, NfL) and astroglial (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP) biomarkers in PFPs over 2 years.

methodsWe measured with commercial immunoassays NfL and GFAP concentrations n = 129 serum samples obtained from n = 43 male PFPs playing for a German professional football team. Samples were collected at five time points over 2 years and before/after an index match. Associations between blood markers and potential sources of neuronal damage, such as intense physical activity, injuries, and headers, were tested.

resultsSerum NfL and GFAP concentrations in PFPs were significantly different at repeated measurements (p < 0.001) but were not associated with metrics of physical activity, total time of physical activity, total number of headers, and headers-per-match. After injuries with mild TBI, serum NfL and GFAP increased and returned to normal levels within few days. Before and after an index match, serum levels of NfL and GFAP were not significantly different, nor they were significantly associated with physical activity and headers. DISCUSSION: Serum NfL and GFAP may be used to monitor PFP over time. Repeated headers and intense physical activity in PFPs seem to be safe on a neurochemical level.

Indexed as

Brain ConcussionGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinNeurofilament ProteinsSoccerAdultAthletic InjuriesBiomarkersGermanyHumansMaleYoung AdultBiomarkersGFAP protein, humanGlial Fibrillary Acidic Proteinneurofilament protein LNeurofilament ProteinsconcussionFootballglial fibrillary acidic proteinhead traumaneurofilament light chainsport

Identifiers

PMID40514556
PMCPMC12165892

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.