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Study of Retired Soccer Players Aged 30-60 Finds Brain Differences but No Cognitive Impairment
New research presented at a London conference found former professional soccer players reported more anxiety and depression and had lower gray matter in key brain areas than non-contact athletes. The study of 142 players aged 30 to 60 used scans and assessments but found no major cognitive deficits. Cnn reported the initial findings have not been submitted to a journal.
Jul 12, 12:01 AM·1m read1 source
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Research presented at the July 2026 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in London found retired professional soccer players showed signs of potential neurological impacts in midlife. Cnn reported that former players were more likely to report anxiety, depression, and problems with thinking or decision-making than people who had not played contact sports.
The study examined 142 former professional soccer players, 126 men and 16 women aged 30 to 60.
Researchers at Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology used questionnaires, clinical assessments, and brain scans. Cnn reported they found lower gray matter in regions tied to memory, decision-making, attention, and emotional regulation compared with non-contact sport participants.
No significant impacts on cognition such as memory and attention appeared among the players, Cnn reported.
Lead author Caleigh Lynch, a research technician at the institutions, said the team could not determine whether the differences stemmed from repetitive head impacts or other factors tied to professional soccer. Senior author Dr. Thomas Parker, a clinical lecturer and consultant neurologist at the same centers, noted the focus on midlife participants allows tracking of trajectories before typical dementia ages.
The abstract presents initial findings and has not been submitted to a journal. Most prior data on sport-related head impacts and long-term brain health come from American football research, Cnn reported. Dr.
