Cerebral and Cognitive Effects in Female Pro Soccer Players After Repeated Small Head Impacts

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study uses MRI to examine brain structure and function in female professional soccer players who are at the end of their careers or have retired within about 10 years, comparing them with age-matched controls with little to no head-injury exposure. It focuses on diffusion, perfusion, functional MRI, brain volumes, cortical thickness, spectroscopy, and susceptibility imaging to detect microstructural and functional changes. The goal is to see if repeated mild head impacts are associated with MRI-detectable abnormalities and potential cognitive changes. Participants include exposed players and unexposed controls, with rigorous exclusion of prior severe head injuries. No treatment is being tested; the study is observational and analytic in nature.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Exposed high-level athletes: female professional soccer players at the end of their career (32- years old) playing in France Ligue 1 or 2 exposed to repeated mild head injuries with no history of severe head injury or cerebral
* Female High-level athletes not exposed to repeated mild head injuries: control group paired for age with female professional soccer players, who have never regularly participated in sports exposing them to head injuries (notably rugby, basketball, handball, American football, hockey, combat sports, etc.) and who have no history of head injury, even mild. Female Professional tennis players or former players will be preferentially recruited.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Refusal to be informed of abnormalities on MRI
* Incapacity to give informed consent or under a legal protection order;
* History of cerebral concussion including the presence after head shock of one or more of the following signs or symptoms: a period of confusion or disorientation, a period of loss of consciousness of 30 minutes or less, post-traumatic amnesia not exceeding 24 hours
* History of severe head/brain injury;
* History of neurological or psychiatric disorder;
* Known cerebral abnormality diagnosed by an imaging exam (CT or MRI);
* History or regular or occasional consumption of drugs, unweaned active smoking or weaned for less than 1 year, excessive consumption of alcohol (\> 20 g alcohol per day, evaluated with the formula "degree of alcohol × volume in cl × 8/1000"), weaned or not.
* Usage of medication targeting the central nervous system in the 2 weeks preceding inclusion in the study;
* Prior history of severe hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart disease, progressive or disabling disease;
* Contraindication to MRI (claustrophobia, implanted material not compatible with MRI, refusal to be informed of abnormality discovered on MRI)

Where it's running

• Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg
  Strasbourg, France Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Stéphane KREMER, MD — Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg
• Study coordinator: Stéphane KREMER, MD
• Email: stephane.kremer@chru-strasbourg.fr
• Phone: 03 88 12 78 48

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Impact of soccer practice on brain health and cognition

  This study looks at how repeated minor head injuries from playing soccer affect the brain and thinking skills of professional players as they near retirement, comparing them to other athletes who haven't had similar injuries.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · Strasbourg · NCT04903015

• brainQuant detection of white matter changes on diffusion MRI linked to head injuries in professional soccer players

  We will test whether brainQuant can spot white matter changes on diffusion MRI that might indicate past head injuries in professional soccer players near retirement.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · Strasbourg · NCT07302503

• Using F-18 Flornaptitril PET scans to see brain protein patterns in people with MCI from suspected CTE or Alzheimer's

  This study will test whether F-18 Flornaptitril PET scans can predict clinical worsening in people with mild cognitive impairment suspected to be due to chronic traumatic encephalopathy or Alzheimer's disease.

  Recruiting Phase 3 CereMark Pharma, LLC · Evanston, Illinois · NCT06254469

• Examining brain function decline in professional athletes after concussions

  This study is trying to see how repeated concussions affect brain function in retired professional athletes and what that might mean for their long-term health.

  Recruiting University Health Network, Toronto · Toronto, Ontario · NCT03218332

• Treatment for neurologic disorders using stem cells

  This study is testing whether using stem cells from patients' own bone marrow can help improve brain and nerve function in people with serious neurologic disorders that don't respond well to regular treatments.

  Recruiting at 3 sites MD Stem Cells · Westport, Connecticut and 2 other locations · NCT02795052

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.