Heading leads to changes in the brain of football players. An article about this was published in the journal Brain Injury.

Heading is an integral part of the game of football. It is impossible to hit the ball hard with the head, but often players put their head under a fast-flying ball to redirect it.

In the study, scientists from the Norwegian Institute of Sports, led by Stian Bahr Sandmo, analyzed blood samples from 89 professional players. Analyzes were taken in different situations, including after games and training, during which the ball hit the head.

“This study has a rather small sample size,” the authors say. “But future research that complements ours may lead to a better understanding of the potential harms of repetitive blows to the head.”

As an indicator of the state of the brain, scientists chose miRNAs - molecules involved in gene expression. In total, three states of the players were identified: after an accidental hit of the ball in the head, after purposeful practice of heading, and after a regular high-intensity training.

It turned out that accidentally hitting the ball on the head caused changes in an additional eight types of microRNA compared to a regular workout. Repeated blows to the head during training led to microRNA changes associated with the production of the TGF-β protein. TGF-β is involved in the protection of nervous tissue and the prevention of inflammation, and its high level is considered an indicator of brain injury.

To confirm the conclusions of the study, the authors of the work consider it necessary to expand the sample of players.

bbabo.Net