Former Elite Soccer Players Show Altered Brain Health

A recent study found that former elite soccer players have lower gray matter volume on MRI scans and report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and executive dysfunction compared to non-athletes. Despite performing similarly on objective cognitive tests, these brain changes suggest potential long-term impacts on mental health. This highlights the need for ongoing mental health monitoring in athletes, especially those involved in high-impact sports, to understand and address the long-term effects on brain health.