Football heading linked to increased blood biomarkers and brain changes

Research presented at the 2026 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in London has provided new insights into the neurological impact of heading a football. Two independent studies examined both amateur and professional players.

A study involving approximately 299 amateur players found that blood biomarkers S100B and p-tau217 increase immediately following headers, with levels intensifying under repeated exposure.

A second study of 142 former professional players from the United Kingdom, aged 30 to 60, revealed structural brain changes and higher rates of psychological distress. Imaging showed reduced gray matter volume in brain regions responsible for memory, decision-making, attention, and emotion regulation. Compared to a healthy control group, 31 percent of former professionals reported depressive symptoms, and 42 percent reported anxiety symptoms.

Researchers noted that these findings are based on observational data and require longer-term follow-up studies to establish definitive conclusions.