‘Three concussions may impact attention in women footballers’

Author: Freja Lähteenmäki et al
Journal: Sports (2026)

AI generated summary

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between neurocognitive function and concussion history in professional women football players. Seventy-four players were recruited through FIFPRO and national unions, with 68 completing a comprehensive neurocognitive assessment using the CNS Vital Signs test battery. Neurocognitive performance across domains such as memory, attention, processing speed, executive function, and motor speed was compared with age-matched normative data, and associations with self-reported concussion history were explored.

Overall, professional women footballers demonstrated normal neurocognitive functioning, scoring within the average range in 11 of 12 domains. Motor speed was above average, reflecting sport-specific neuromuscular adaptations. Despite the high prevalence of concussion—43% of players reported at least one concussion, with defenders most frequently affected—no widespread neurocognitive deficits were identified at the group level.

However, a history of three concussions was significantly associated with lower performance in the simple attention domain, indicating a potential threshold at which cumulative concussive exposure may begin to affect specific cognitive functions. No significant impairments were observed in players with one or two concussions, nor was a linear relationship evident for players reporting four or five concussions, likely due to small sample sizes and survivor bias.

The findings suggest that while professional women footballers generally maintain intact neurocognitive function, repeated concussions—particularly three or more—may be linked to subtle attention-related impairments. The authors emphasize the need for longitudinal research, standardized baseline testing, and improved concussion surveillance to better understand cumulative brain health risks in women’s professional football and to inform prevention and monitoring strategies

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FIFPRO – AI generated summary media release

A recent FIFPRO-led health study has found that professional women footballers who report three or more concussions may experience reduced attention-related cognitive performance compared with those with fewer or no concussions. The research was conducted as part of the Drake Football Study, a 10-year project monitoring the health of footballers, and involved 68 professional women players undergoing online neurocognitive testing measuring memory, attention, reaction time and other thinking skills.

Players with a history of three concussions performed significantly worse on attention tasks—skills essential for tracking the ball and opponents, maintaining awareness, and reacting quickly during matches. However, participants overall scored within normal population ranges on 11 out of 12 cognitive domains, and no widespread cognitive impairments were identified during their active careers. Motor speed scores were above average, likely reflecting the neuromuscular demands of elite football.

About 43 % of players reported at least one concussion, with defenders reporting the highest exposure. FIFPRO’s Medical Director, Prof. Dr. Vincent Gouttebarge, noted that the findings do not yet warrant immediate changes to concussion health guidelines, but they highlight the importance of careful monitoring, management and return-to-play protocols—especially in cases of multiple concussions. The study also adds crucial female-specific evidence to a field historically under-represented in concussion research.

Niels de Vries
Niels de Vries
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