A new imaging technique developed at Columbia University has identified areas of the cerebral cortex – just behind the forehead – that are most severely damaged by repeated impacts from hitting a ball, a well-known phenomenon in hitters.
Repeated football tackles cause brain damage in the orbitofrontal cortex, which is responsible for learning and memory, according to a new study from Columbia University. The researchers found that players who tackle more than a thousand times a year exhibit microstructural changes in their brains and poorer cognitive performance, a finding that raises concerns about a future link to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
A new imaging technique developed at Columbia University has identified areas of the cerebral cortex—just behind the forehead—that are most severely damaged by repeated impacts from kicking a ball. The study found that the damage is linked to cognitive decline, as seen in soccer players who frequently kick.
The study, published September 18 in JAMA Network Open, was conducted among adult amateur soccer players in New York.
According to Professor Michael Lipton, a radiologist and biomedical engineer at Columbia University and lead author of the study: "What's important here is that our study shows for the first time that repeated head trauma causes specific changes in the brain – which lead to cognitive impairment."
The researchers note that the new method provides a tool for identifying these injuries in individuals, allowing for a better understanding of the effects of repeated injuries on the brain and even the development of treatments. Another study from the same lab, to be published in Neurology, confirms similar findings in this area of the brain using a different imaging technique.
How were the signs of damage revealed?
The transition zones between gray and white matter in the cerebral cortex were examined using diffusion MRI (dMRI). This area is particularly vulnerable, as the tissue types move at different rates in response to head trauma, creating shear forces that can cause damage.
Joanne Song, a research student in the lab, developed a new method to measure the microscopic structure at these transition zones. “In a healthy brain, there is a sharp transition between tissues,” she explained. “We tested whether repeated hits blur this transition.”
Results of the study
352 amateur soccer players underwent dMRI scans and were tested alongside 77 other athletes whose physical activity did not involve heading. All participants performed simple tests of learning and memory.
Players who reported more than 1,000 hits per year showed a blurrier transition between gray and white matter in the orbitofrontal region, as well as lower scores on learning and memory tests compared to players who hit little or no hits.
According to Lipton: “This is a strong finding that suggests that these microstructural changes are likely a direct cause of cognitive decline.”
Where are things heading?
The lab is now investigating whether the biomarkers found are linked to the future development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease found in athletes who have experienced multiple head injuries. "The location of the abnormalities we identified is strikingly similar to the pathology of CTE, but it is not yet known whether there is a direct link, or whether currently healthy players will develop CTE in the future."
At the same time, the team is investigating whether cardiovascular exercise can provide some protection against the damage caused by impacts.
Orbitofrontal Gray-White Interface Injury Mediates Soccer Heading Association with Verbal Learning, published inJAMA Network Open On September 18, 2025.
One response
Now I understand why footballers like Ella are stupid. Thank you