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Former professional footballers may experience changes in brain health by midlife, according to new research

In a large study of retired professional footballers, participants reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as subjective difficulties with memory, focus and decision‑making, compared with people of a similar age with no history of repeated head impacts. However, there were no clear differences of objective tests of memory and thinking between the two groups.

MRI brain scans of the former players also showed structural differences. Former players had lower volumes of grey matter in areas linked to memory, attention, decision‑making and emotional regulation.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting that playing football, which can include repeatedly heading the ball, may be associated with changes in brain health. The results are being presented at the in London and online.

Lead author Caleigh Grace Lynch, from the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, said: “We found that there may be effects on brain health in former elite footballers even in midlife, before conditions such as dementia usually become apparent.”

“Although there were not clear differences between ex-players and non-players in standard cognitive tests, we did see significant differences in symptoms (such as anxiety and depression) reported by participants, as well as in brain imaging.”

The interim study involved 142 former professional footballers aged 30 to 60. This included 126 men who had held a full‑time professional contract in England for at least three years, and 16 women who had competed in the top two tiers of the UK women’s game.

They were compared with 56 people (43 men, 13 women) of a similar age who had not played contact sports, served in the military, or experienced repeated head impacts or neurological conditions.

The former footballers reported more symptoms of depression and anxiety, along with greater difficulty planning, concentrating and managing everyday tasks.

Brain imaging via MRI scans showed some evidence of reduced grey matter brain volume at the group level, compared with controls. However, a clinical review of the scans by a neuroradiologist found that only a small proportion of the individual scans (~2%) had clinically significant atrophy suggestive of neurodegeneration. Further investigation is required to fully understand this result.

It’s important to note that the study does not establish a direct cause. While the findings are consistent with possible effects of repeated head impacts, researchers say further work is needed to confirm this link.

Maria C. Carrillo, chief science officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, said the results contribute to a wider evidence base: “Studies like this can help players, clinicians and sporting bodies better understand potential risks and consider how sport can be made safer, while allowing people to make informed choices.”

The team at Imperial and the UK DRI plan to continue following participants over time and expand the study, incorporating additional measures such as blood-based markers and more detailed brain imaging.

Dr Thomas Parker, from the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and a consultant neurologist at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “By following participants over time, we hope to better understand how repeated head impacts may affect long‑term brain health. This will also help to find ways to reduce potential risks in sport.”

The study forms part of the Advanced BRAIN Health Clinic Research Programme at the Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health, an Imperial-linked initiative examining the long‑term effects of repeated head impacts in retired elite football and rugby players.

Together, these findings contribute to ongoing discussions among doctors, researchers and sporting bodies about player safety and the long‑term health of players involved in contact sport.

The study was funded by the Football Association and Professional Footballers’ Association.

Clinical research at ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ is underpinned by the , a translational research partnership between Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½.

Mid-life brain health in former elite soccer players by Caleigh Grace Lynch, et al; will be presented as a Poster in the Public Health: Population Health Prevention Strategies session on Sunday, July 12, 2026 at the .