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Risk of Cognitive Decline in Professional Soccer Players after Repetitive Subconcussive Impacts: A Systematic Review
1Department of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital Named after Prof. Dr Med. Jan Bogdanowicz.
Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica
|April 26, 2026
Summary
Repetitive soccer heading is linked to significant cognitive deficits across multiple brain functions. This systematic review confirms heading as a risk factor for measurable cognitive decline in athletes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Repetitive soccer heading may cause cumulative subconcussive brain injury.
- The cognitive effects of heading are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze cognitive outcomes linked to repetitive soccer heading.
- To quantify global and domain-specific cognitive effects.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
- Searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science up to December 2025.
- Pooled data from 28 studies using random-effects models, analyzed effect sizes and publication bias.
Main Results:
- Repetitive heading significantly increased odds of global cognitive underperformance (OR 1.67).
- Consistent impairments observed in visuospatial ability, verbal memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function.
- Findings remained significant after publication bias adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Repetitive soccer heading is robustly associated with cognitive deficits across multiple domains.
- Cumulative subconcussive exposure from heading is an independent risk factor for cognitive decline.
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