The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial
Abstract Background Head impacts, particularly, non-concussive impacts, are common in sport. Yet, their effects on the brain remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the acute effects of non-concussive impacts on brain microstructure, chemistry, and function using magnetic resonance imaging (...
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SpringerOpen
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Sports Medicine - Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00867-0 |
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| author | Nathan Delang Rebecca V. Robertson Fernando A. Tinoco Mendoza Luke A. Henderson Caroline D. Rae Stuart J. McDonald Ben Desbrow Christopher Irwin Aimie L. Peek Elizabeth A. Cairns Paul J. Austin Michael A. Green Nicholas W. Jenneke Jun Cao William T. O’Brien Shane Ball Michael E. Buckland Katherine Rae Iain S. McGregor Danielle McCartney |
| author_facet | Nathan Delang Rebecca V. Robertson Fernando A. Tinoco Mendoza Luke A. Henderson Caroline D. Rae Stuart J. McDonald Ben Desbrow Christopher Irwin Aimie L. Peek Elizabeth A. Cairns Paul J. Austin Michael A. Green Nicholas W. Jenneke Jun Cao William T. O’Brien Shane Ball Michael E. Buckland Katherine Rae Iain S. McGregor Danielle McCartney |
| author_sort | Nathan Delang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Head impacts, particularly, non-concussive impacts, are common in sport. Yet, their effects on the brain remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the acute effects of non-concussive impacts on brain microstructure, chemistry, and function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other techniques. Results Fifteen healthy male soccer players participated in a randomised, controlled, crossover pilot trial. The intervention was a non-concussive soccer heading task (‘Heading’) and the control was an equivalent ‘Kicking’ task. Participants underwent MRI scans ~ 45 min post-task which took ~60 min to complete. Blood was also sampled, and cognitive function assessed, pre-, post-, 2.5 h post-, and 24 h post-task. Brain chemistry: Heading increased total N-acetylaspartate (p = 0.012; g = 0.66) and total creatine (p = 0.010; g = 0.77) levels in the primary motor cortex (but not the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) as assessed via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glutamate-glutamine, myoinositol, and total choline levels were not significantly altered in either region. Brain structure: Heading had no significant effects on diffusion weighted imaging metrics. However, two blood biomarkers expressed in brain microstructures, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light, were elevated 24 h (p = 0.014; g = 0.64) and ~ 7-days (p = 0.046; g = 1.19) post-Heading (vs. Kicking), respectively. Brain Function: Heading decreased tissue conductivity in 11 clusters located in the white matter of the frontal, occipital, temporal and parietal lobes, and cerebellum (p’s < 0.001) as assessed via electrical properties tomography. However, no significant differences were identified in: (1) connectivity within major brain networks as assessed via resting-state functional MRI; (2) cerebral blood flow as assessed via pseudo continuous arterial spin labelling; (3) activity within electroencephalography frequencies (infra-slow [0.03–0.06 Hz], theta [4–8 Hz], alpha [9–12 Hz], or beta [13–25 Hz]); or (4) cognitive (memory) function. Conclusions This study identified chemical, microstructural and functional brain alterations in response to an acute non-concussive soccer heading task. These alterations appear to be subtle, with some only detected in specific regions, and no corresponding cognitive deficits observed. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that individuals should exercise caution when performing repeated non-concussive head impacts in sport. Trial registration ACTRN12621001355864. Date of registration: 7/10/2021. URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382590&isReview=true . |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-822a08c739ab41f3a7ebb4aba1e17f30 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2198-9761 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sports Medicine - Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-822a08c739ab41f3a7ebb4aba1e17f302025-08-20T02:37:14ZengSpringerOpenSports Medicine - Open2198-97612025-06-0111112010.1186/s40798-025-00867-0The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled TrialNathan Delang0Rebecca V. Robertson1Fernando A. Tinoco Mendoza2Luke A. Henderson3Caroline D. Rae4Stuart J. McDonald5Ben Desbrow6Christopher Irwin7Aimie L. Peek8Elizabeth A. Cairns9Paul J. Austin10Michael A. Green11Nicholas W. Jenneke12Jun Cao13William T. O’Brien14Shane Ball15Michael E. Buckland16Katherine Rae17Iain S. McGregor18Danielle McCartney19School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith UniversityBrain and Mind Centre, The University of SydneyBrain and Mind Centre, The University of SydneyBrain and Mind Centre, The University of SydneyNeuroscience Research AustraliaDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash UniversitySchool of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith UniversitySchool of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith UniversitySchool of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), The University of SydneyBrain and Mind Centre, The University of SydneyBrain and Mind Centre, The University of SydneyNeuroscience Research AustraliaSchool of Medical Sciences (Neuroscience), The University of SydneyNeuroscience Research AustraliaDepartment of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash UniversitySchool of Health Sciences (Medicine & Health), The University of SydneyBrain and Mind Centre, The University of SydneyThe Sports Clinic, The University of SydneySchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of SydneySchool of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of SydneyAbstract Background Head impacts, particularly, non-concussive impacts, are common in sport. Yet, their effects on the brain remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the acute effects of non-concussive impacts on brain microstructure, chemistry, and function using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other techniques. Results Fifteen healthy male soccer players participated in a randomised, controlled, crossover pilot trial. The intervention was a non-concussive soccer heading task (‘Heading’) and the control was an equivalent ‘Kicking’ task. Participants underwent MRI scans ~ 45 min post-task which took ~60 min to complete. Blood was also sampled, and cognitive function assessed, pre-, post-, 2.5 h post-, and 24 h post-task. Brain chemistry: Heading increased total N-acetylaspartate (p = 0.012; g = 0.66) and total creatine (p = 0.010; g = 0.77) levels in the primary motor cortex (but not the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) as assessed via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Glutamate-glutamine, myoinositol, and total choline levels were not significantly altered in either region. Brain structure: Heading had no significant effects on diffusion weighted imaging metrics. However, two blood biomarkers expressed in brain microstructures, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neurofilament light, were elevated 24 h (p = 0.014; g = 0.64) and ~ 7-days (p = 0.046; g = 1.19) post-Heading (vs. Kicking), respectively. Brain Function: Heading decreased tissue conductivity in 11 clusters located in the white matter of the frontal, occipital, temporal and parietal lobes, and cerebellum (p’s < 0.001) as assessed via electrical properties tomography. However, no significant differences were identified in: (1) connectivity within major brain networks as assessed via resting-state functional MRI; (2) cerebral blood flow as assessed via pseudo continuous arterial spin labelling; (3) activity within electroencephalography frequencies (infra-slow [0.03–0.06 Hz], theta [4–8 Hz], alpha [9–12 Hz], or beta [13–25 Hz]); or (4) cognitive (memory) function. Conclusions This study identified chemical, microstructural and functional brain alterations in response to an acute non-concussive soccer heading task. These alterations appear to be subtle, with some only detected in specific regions, and no corresponding cognitive deficits observed. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that individuals should exercise caution when performing repeated non-concussive head impacts in sport. Trial registration ACTRN12621001355864. Date of registration: 7/10/2021. URL: https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=382590&isReview=true .https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00867-0SubconcussionContact sportNeuralAstroglialMetabolites |
| spellingShingle | Nathan Delang Rebecca V. Robertson Fernando A. Tinoco Mendoza Luke A. Henderson Caroline D. Rae Stuart J. McDonald Ben Desbrow Christopher Irwin Aimie L. Peek Elizabeth A. Cairns Paul J. Austin Michael A. Green Nicholas W. Jenneke Jun Cao William T. O’Brien Shane Ball Michael E. Buckland Katherine Rae Iain S. McGregor Danielle McCartney The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Sports Medicine - Open Subconcussion Contact sport Neural Astroglial Metabolites |
| title | The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_full | The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_short | The Acute Effects of Non-concussive Head Impacts on Brain Microstructure, Chemistry and Function in Male Soccer Players: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | acute effects of non concussive head impacts on brain microstructure chemistry and function in male soccer players a pilot randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Subconcussion Contact sport Neural Astroglial Metabolites |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00867-0 |
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