Study: Ex-Professional Footballers Show Brain Changes and Mood Issues in Middle Age

London – July 12, 2026 – A significant study presenting insights into the brain health of former elite professional footballers was unveiled today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in London. The research, considered the first and largest of its kind among retired professional footballers, explored neurological symptoms and brain changes.

The former players reported higher levels of depression and anxiety and subjective difficulties with thinking and decision-making compared to control groups without a history of repeated head impacts or contact sports. Brain MRI scans revealed structural differences in the brains of some former players when contrasted with healthy individuals who had no background in contact sports or head trauma.

Analysis indicated that nearly one-third (31%) of former players scored as having clinically significant depression symptoms, versus 9% in the control group. Clinically significant anxiety symptoms were reported by 42% of players, compared to 25% of controls. Brain imaging of 124 former players showed reduced grey matter volume in several brain regions, including frontal and thalamic areas crucial for cognitive functions.

Researchers emphasized that these findings suggest measurable effects on brain health in former elite footballers, even before clinical signs of neurodegenerative disease typically appear. The results add to ongoing research exploring the long-term impact of football on brain health and underscore the importance of further study into repeated head impacts.