Feature|Articles|July 21, 2026

The Hidden Cost of the Beautiful Game: Part 2

Author(s)Louie Pasculli, Rory Siegel, DO, Caleigh G. Lynch, MSc

Fact checked by: Marco Meglio, Kelly King

From concussion recognition to blood-based biomarkers and the long-term effects of repetitive heading, neurologists discuss how emerging research is changing the understanding of brain injury in the world's most popular sport.

One effort to better understand that longer timeline is underway in London, the United Kingdom, where researchers with the Advanced Brain Health Clinic are studying retired soccer and rugby players through a combination of clinical care and longitudinal research. Caleigh Lynch, MSc, a research technician with the Advanced Brain Health Clinic, and Thomas Parker, PhD, a consultant neurologist and clinical lecturer at Imperial College London, are among the researchers involved in the project.