Soccer headers alter brains, adding to dementia fears

Australian researchers have found repeated soccer headers may alter brain chemistry. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Heading a soccer ball alters brain chemistry, but more studies are needed to prove if the activity can be clearly linked to dementia, researchers have found.

World-leading research driven by Sydney University showed "subtle but measurable" effects when players headed a ball 20 times in as many minutes.