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Ex-Soccer Players Show Brain Loss, Depression, Anxiety

7/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Imperial College London researchers found retired British soccer players have brain tissue loss and higher anxiety and depression despite normal memory.
MRI scans of 142 former players aged 30-60 and 56 non-contact controls in London showed tissue differences but no cognitive decline.
Thirty-one percent of ex-players met clinical depression criteria versus nine percent of controls, with researchers planning biennial re-examinations and noting the findings cannot predict dementia risk.

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Story summary

Imperial College London researchers found retired British soccer players have brain tissue loss and higher anxiety and depression despite normal memory.
MRI scans of 142 former players aged 30-60 and 56 non-contact controls in London showed tissue differences but no cognitive decline.
Thirty-one percent of ex-players met clinical depression criteria versus nine percent of controls, with researchers planning biennial re-examinations and noting the findings cannot predict dementia risk.