A Columbia University study of 352 amateur soccer players found that heading the ball causes brain damage and cognitive decline. Researchers divided players by header frequency, with the highest group averaging 3,152 headers yearly compared to 105 in the lowest group. Brain scans revealed greater white matter disruption in the cerebral cortex folds among frequent headers, particularly in the orbitofrontal region above the eye sockets. Players with more brain changes scored worse on thinking and memory tests. The study, published in Neurology, examined players averaging 26 years old from the New York City area. (Story URL)
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