Study: Former footballers show higher rates of depression and anxiety

Former professional football players are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and self-reported difficulties with thinking and decision-making than people who have never played the sport, according to new research presented by Euronews.

Preliminary findings showed that nearly one-third of the 142 former professional footballers included in the study had symptoms severe enough to meet the threshold for clinical depression, compared with 9% of participants in the control group. Clinically significant anxiety symptoms were identified in 42% of former players, versus 25% among individuals with no history of playing football.

"Although standard cognitive tests did not reveal clear differences between former footballers and people who had never played the sport, we observed significant differences in self-reported symptoms such as anxiety and depression, as well as in brain imaging findings," said lead author Kayleigh Grace Lynch.

According to Lynch, the results suggest that former professional footballers may already exhibit measurable changes in brain health during middle age, long before neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia typically become apparent.

The study included 142 retired professional footballers aged 30 to 60, including 126 men who had played professionally for at least three years and 16 women who had competed in the top two women's football divisions in the United Kingdom.

Their results were compared with those of 56 healthy adults of similar age who had no history of contact sports participation, military service, head injuries, or neurological disorders.

The research, conducted by scientists from Imperial College London and presented at the 2026 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), also found that former elite players more frequently reported difficulties with planning, concentration, problem-solving, and managing everyday activities.

However, these differences were observed only in participants' own assessments of their cognitive functioning. Standard objective tests of memory and thinking did not detect significant differences between the two groups.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans revealed structural differences in the brains of some former footballers compared with healthy controls, including evidence of reduced brain volume.

The researchers caution that although the increased symptoms and brain volume changes could indicate trauma-related neurodegeneration, further studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

"Studies like this help players, healthcare professionals, and sporting organizations better understand potential risks and explore ways to make the game safer, while also enabling people to make informed decisions," said Maria C. Carrillo, Chief Science Officer of the Alzheimer's Association.

Millions of people play football around the world every day. While physical activity is generally beneficial for overall health, football also carries a risk of head injuries through both repeated heading of the ball and accidental collisions with other players or the ground.

"By following participants over time, we hope to better understand how repeated head impacts affect long-term brain health and identify ways to reduce potential risks in sport," said Thomas Park of the UK Dementia Research Institute.

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