Understanding the cognitive risks and benefits of heading in soccer
Heading and Soccer: understanding cognitive risks, benefits, and the potentialmediating role of white matter
This study is looking at how playing soccer can be good for your fitness but might also have some risks for your brain from heading the ball, and it’s for young adults who want to understand how these factors might affect their health over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10917370 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the balance between the aerobic benefits of playing soccer and the cognitive risks associated with repetitive subconcussive head impacts from heading the ball. It aims to understand how these impacts affect brain structure and function, particularly focusing on white matter, which is crucial for cognitive performance. By using neuroimaging techniques, the study will explore how individual factors may influence the risk-benefit tradeoff for players. The research will involve a longitudinal follow-up of 280 young adults to gather comprehensive data on these effects.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are young adults aged 21 and older who participate in soccer and may be exposed to heading the ball.
Not a fit: Patients who do not play soccer or are under 21 years old may not receive any benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved guidelines for safe soccer play, enhancing player health while maximizing the benefits of aerobic exercise.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been research on the effects of subconcussive impacts in sports, this specific approach examining the interplay of aerobic benefits and cognitive risks is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lipton, Michael Lawrence — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lipton, Michael Lawrence
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.