Youth Soccer Participation and Brain Health Outcomes in Adolescent Athletes - Summary - MDSpire

Youth Soccer Participation and Brain Health Outcomes in Adolescent Athletes

  • By

  • Inga K. Koerte

  • Tim L. T. Wiegand

  • Elena M. Bonke

  • Stian K. Sandmo

  • David Kaufmann

  • Caroline Seer

  • Anja K. Betz

  • Alberto De Luca

  • Johanna Seitz-Holland

  • Marc Muehlmann

  • Martin Cente

  • Doron Elad

  • Thiago Santos Monteiro

  • Bettina Schwarz-Mörtl

  • Malo Gaubert

  • Elisabeth Kaufmann

  • Michaela V. Bonfert

  • Florian Heinen

  • Alexander P. Lin

  • Martha E. Shenton

  • Yorghos Tripodis

  • Roald Bahr

  • Peter Filipcik

  • Jolien Gooijers

  • Alexander Leemans

  • Nir Sochen

  • Stephan P. Swinnen

  • Ofer Pasternak

  • REPIMPACT Consortium Investigators

  • Sylvain Bouix

  • Fanny Dégeilh

  • Alexandra Gersing

  • Felicitas Heinen

  • Leonard Jung

  • Janna Buring

  • Paul Raffelhueschen

  • Paula Schorlemer

  • Alexandra Castro Silva

  • Lisa Umminger

  • Tars van Craenenbroeck

  • Sam Lauwen

  • Milan Laurent

  • Mathias Smits

  • Gilles Liesenborghs

  • Janne van Hauwenhuyse

  • Alana Lutz

  • Dogan Hasko

  • Tim de Keyzer

  • Lien Meulemans

  • Serafien D'Hooghe

  • Stijn Coenaerts

  • Lauren Swinnen

  • Inge Leunissen

  • Thor Einar Andersen

  • Erling Hisdal

  • Audun Hustad Torgersen

  • Jozef Hanes

  • Katarina Matyasova

  • June 22, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To assess the effects of repetitive head impacts (RHIs) from youth soccer on cognition, behavior, balance, neuroimaging measures, and biomarkers of brain injury in adolescent players.

Approach:
    Key Findings:
    • Limited evidence exists regarding the short-term effects of youth soccer participation on neurological health outcomes.
    • Prior studies on retired professional players indicate elevated risks of neurodegenerative diseases linked to RHIs.
    • The REPIMPACT study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of neurological impacts in youth soccer players.
    Interpretation:

    The study aims to provide evidence to inform discussions regarding safety and heading in youth soccer.

    Limitations:
    • The study did not perform a formal a priori sample size calculation due to the exploratory nature of the research.
    • Self-reported measures of heading exposure may not provide absolute accuracy.
    Conclusion:

    The REPIMPACT study is designed to provide comprehensive insights into the neurological impacts of youth soccer participation, addressing significant gaps in existing literature.

    Sources:

Original Source(s)

Youth Soccer Participation and Brain Health Outcomes in Adolescent Athletes

  • by Inga K. Koerte, Tim L. T. Wiegand, Elena M. Bonke, Stian K. Sandmo, David Kaufmann, Caroline Seer, Anja K. Betz, Alberto De Luca, Johanna Seitz-Holland, Marc Muehlmann, Martin Cente, Doron Elad, Thiago Santos Monteiro, Bettina Schwarz-Mörtl, Malo Gaubert, Elisabeth Kaufmann, Michaela V. Bonfert, Florian Heinen, Alexander P. Lin, Martha E. Shenton, Yorghos Tripodis, Roald Bahr, Peter Filipcik, Jolien Gooijers, Alexander Leemans, Nir Sochen, Stephan P. Swinnen, Ofer Pasternak, REPIMPACT Consortium Investigators, Sylvain Bouix, Fanny Dégeilh, Alexandra Gersing, Felicitas Heinen, Leonard Jung, Janna Buring, Paul Raffelhueschen, Paula Schorlemer, Alexandra Castro Silva, Lisa Umminger, Tars van Craenenbroeck, Sam Lauwen, Milan Laurent, Mathias Smits, Gilles Liesenborghs, Janne van Hauwenhuyse, Alana Lutz, Dogan Hasko, Tim de Keyzer, Lien Meulemans, Serafien D'Hooghe, Stijn Coenaerts, Lauren Swinnen, Inge Leunissen, Thor Einar Andersen, Erling Hisdal, Audun Hustad Torgersen, Jozef Hanes, Katarina Matyasova

  • June 22, 2026

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