HealthDay (5/24, Thompson) reports, “The more that participants in mixed martial arts [MMA] spar in practice, the more likely they are to develop” white matter hyperintensities, that is, “brain structure changes that have been linked with brain injury,” investigators concluded. The magnetic resonance imaging study involving 92 professional MMA fighters also revealed that “more MMA sparring in practice is…associated with an increase in size of the caudate nucleus.” The findings were presented at the American Psychiatric Association 2022 Annual Meeting. Healio (5/24, Downey) also covers the study.
Related Links:
— “Mixed Martial Arts Fighters Show Signs of Brain Changes “Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, May 24, 2022