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Five-Year Study Finds Hidden Brain Damage From Heading Footballs

6/28/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Dr Ieuan Phillips, a 25-year-old researcher at Loughborough University, says his five-year study found previously unknown brain-damage risks from heading footballs.
The findings surprised experts in sports medicine.
Phillips began the research after reading lockdown studies on neurodegenerative disease risk among footballers.
He hopes the results will prompt a genuine change in how football is played to protect player health.

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Story summary

Dr Ieuan Phillips, a 25-year-old researcher at Loughborough University, says his five-year study found previously unknown brain-damage risks from heading footballs.
The findings surprised experts in sports medicine.
Phillips began the research after reading lockdown studies on neurodegenerative disease risk among footballers.
He hopes the results will prompt a genuine change in how football is played to protect player health.