Football Associated with Nearly One in Five Brain Injuries in Youth Sports
Youth Football Players with TBI Had Increased Risk of Headache, Vision Problems, Anxiety, and Depression
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Nearly one in five sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among children and young adults can be attributed to youth football, according to a study by New York Medical College faculty and students that was presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s Annual Meeting in April by Isaac Thorman, SOM Class of 2027.
“Traumatic brain injuries from sports are a common, yet preventable, source of long-term neurological and psychiatric issues in children and young adults,” said Steven Wolf, M.D., professor of pediatrics and of neurology and senior author of the study. “Our study found that nearly one in five of these injuries occurred in youth football, with these athletes also experiencing more repeat brain injuries than youth in other sports.”
The NYMC researchers reviewed a health records database to identify 72,025 children and young adults, age 25 or younger, who had experienced their first sports‑ or recreation‑related TBIs. They found that football far outweighed any other activity, accounting for 19 percent of all activity‑related TBIs. Basketball was the second-highest activity, accounting for 11 percent, while soccer accounted for 10 percent, and bicycle riding accounted for 7 percent.
Repeat TBIs and other secondary conditions were also common, with repeat TBIs occurring in 37 percent of football injuries compared to 32 percent across all sports. Among those who played football, those with TBIs had a 23 percent higher risk of chronic headaches compared to those without TBIs, as well as a five percent higher risk of visual impairment, such as double vision, a five percent higher risk of anxiety, and a three percent higher risk of depression.
“With the average age at injury of those in our study just 14 years old, an alarming number of football TBIs occur in young children (elementary school and middle school ages), disrupting a critical window for brain development,” said Thorman.
When looking at timing, the researchers found that TBIs at younger ages were associated with developmental and mood disorders, while TBIs at older ages were associated with substance use disorders.
“Our findings highlight youth football as a critical public health priority, suggesting that brain injuries sustained during key stages of development may reshape health later,” said Wolf. “Prioritizing safety standards like delaying tackle football participation and finding ways to limit repeat injuries could help better protect developing brains.”
