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Story summary
- A Columbia University study indicates that heading a soccer ball can negatively affect brain health in amateur players.
- The research involved 352 adult amateur players who tracked their heading frequency.
- Players heading the ball over 1,000 times annually showed changes in brain structure linked to cognitive function.
- These players performed worse on memory tests, suggesting long-term impacts on planning and focus.
- The findings highlight risks for recreational players and call for further research on potential links to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
